World Food Shortage Alarm
Robert Zoelick Head Of World Bank believes food prices threaten s Global Security
Less than twenty five years ago four African Nations were in the top 10 beef exporting countries in the world, today two of them are starving, whilst the other two are now beef importers..
Bull Brand in South Africa we the fifth biggest beef exporters in the world producing local beef and all the cattle from Namibia formerly South West Africa.. Echo Brand in Botswana had the most modern, state of the art beef plant in the world at Lobatse
.The Vestey Organisation,who were the worlds largest beef and lamb processors were
In Zimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia and operated several beef plants in this lush fertile land for export. Liebigs formerly from London and Fray Bentos in Uraguay ,ran the beef operations of Kenya. through the Kenyan meat commission and together these four counties made up 20pc of the worlds beef exports.
Speaking In Dubai earlier in the year, Sir John Holmes, from the UN¨"s Emergency relief and Humanitarian affairs said "food prices have risen an estimated 40pc since 2007and that security implications should not be underestimated, as food riots are already being reported across the world."
There has been rioting in Egypt, where butchers shops have lost 50% of there trade due to high prices. To try and ease tensions the Egyptian Police, are baking 70,000 loaves of bread each day to sell to the poor for 1 cent a loaf. More than half the population of Egypt live on less than two dollars a day. Ireland is the main exporter of beef to Egypt in recent years mainly manufacturing cow beef and plain steers.
Romania, Bulgaria and the former Yugoslavia were big exporters of beef into Western Europe, under the old Soviet Regime that source of supply, has since disappeared as the domestic economies have improved and increased local consumption.
In the last year since early 2007,Corn has risen by 36pc,Rice has increased 75pc.Soymeal 87pc and in many counties bread has gone up 130pc in price. The increased production in Biofuels along with increased consumption in emerging economies, such as India and China have played a large part in the crisis.
Meat has been a luxury item in Europe for several years, with high prices caused by the guarantee systems in place to safeguard farmers. However the wealthy economies have been helped by the growth of processed meats, such as sausage, burgers and kebabs these products have always ensured a sufficient meat intake for a healthy diet.
In the last few months there have been Food Riots in Haiti, Cameroon, the Ivory Coast,
the price causing the problems today and not just the shortage.
Josette Sheeran, director of the UN World Food Programme said last month "We are seeing the new face of global hunger. We are seeing food on the shelves, yet people are unable to afford it"
George Sorros, one of the biggest land owners in Argentina believes this situation will last for at least 10 years until agriculture catches up to world demand.
