A Closer Look | The Global Food Crises

It is difficult to ignore the dramatic rise in food prices in the U.S., especially in the last few months; however, it is even more difficult to ignore its dramatic effects seen around the world. The sudden increase in food costs has proved to be a full-blown food crisis that has hit on a global scale. The crisis continues to devastate poorer countries around the world causing enormous unrest, from riots to starvation.

The global food crisis is such a multi-faceted and complicated issue that it seems an impossible task for one to conceptualize its many moving parts and all the ways in which they relate. As an issue of such complexity, it is not possible for one to justifiably place blame on one person, policy, country or entity. However, there has been a lot of finger-pointing and speculation in the media as to what or who has influenced this global crisis.

Just yesterday, billionaire venture capitalist, Vinod Khosala, was the subject of criticism in a Wall Street Journal op-ed for the opinions he expressed about the American Petroleum Institute during an interview with San Francisco Chronicle last week. Even more striking was “Food crisis a conspiracy?”, an article featured in yesterday’s Tehran Times, which seems to place blame on the global elite…

Whether the cause is attributed to rising oil prices & energy costs, trade policy, farm policy, drought, biofuels or…a conspiracy..., the world food crisis is a serious and fragile issue that requires international communication and cooperation and must be handled with great tact and care.

Check out these maps and images from Reuters illustrating the "real costs of rising food prices" (be sure to take off your pop-up blocker).