New York, NY—The United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has further increased existing concern over world food supply and prices by announcing alarming predictions for the near future. FAO chief economist Abdolreza Abbassian summarized the situation in a widely-circulated statement, saying ,“We are entering danger territory.”

Due to a steady rise in prices of sugar, grains and oilseed, economists warn there will likely be global inflation, elevated hunger issues among the poor and international relations may become strained. A monthly food price index compiled by the UN revealed that prices in December 2010 surpassed those of June 2008, when food riots occurred in various places across the planet.

The index is based on price figures for the major commodities: corn, wheat, meat, sugar and dairy produce. Experts identify the culprit as the unpredictable weather issues that have affected major agricultural zones, such as flooding in Australia, extreme, crop-threatening cold in the northern hemisphere and borderline-drought conditions in Argentina.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine, March 2011 (online 1/14/11)