[energyZ]

According to Guardian future oil price rises will have a massive impact on food security. World grain stocks are at their lowest level in 34 years. In China, the most populous nation on earth, the grain harvest fell by 9% between 1998 and 2005, with the country now an ever-larger presence in global food markets as a result.Escalating food prices are likely to lead to political instability on a global scale, as more people chase fewer food resources. We could face the prospect of food shortages in the UK - one of Europe's largest food importers - and the possibility of starvation in some developing countries.
What do you think about this link between peak oil and food supplies? I am quite concerned now to be honest when oil prices moved a step closer to the $100 a barrel.

[roccman]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('energyZ', 'A')ccording to Guardian future oil price rises will have a massive impact on food security. World grain stocks are at their lowest level in 34 years. In China, the most populous nation on earth, the grain harvest fell by 9% between 1998 and 2005, with the country now an ever-larger presence in global food markets as a result.Escalating food prices are likely to lead to political instability on a global scale, as more people chase fewer food resources. We could face the prospect of food shortages in the UK - one of Europe's largest food importers - and the possibility of starvation in some developing countries.
What do you think about this link between peak oil and food supplies? I am quite concerned now to be honest when oil prices moved a step closer to the $100 a barrel.

[sittinguy]

I think you got it! Its called peak everything. this is the beginning many think, Hopefully it is a big speed bump. I know I am still not prepared, I know what I need, but I don't have much of it yet. GET PREPARED NOW. Things are going to get much more expensive in the next couple years "i think" You just have to figure out what is rite for YOU to do. If anything.

[jlw61]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('energyZ', 'W')hat do you think about this link between peak oil and food supplies? I am quite concerned now to be honest when oil prices moved a step closer to the $100 a barrel.

[steam_cannon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jlw61', 'T')ypically the scenario is to make sure nobody is hording by invading homes and searching from top to bottom, thus punishing the prepared and industrious among us and rewarding the unprepared or lazy.

[Chesire]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')My concern is how government reacts to shortages and a restless population. Typically the scenario is to make sure nobody is hording by invading homes and searching from top to bottom, thus punishing the prepared and industrius among us and rewarding the unprepared or lazy. Other scenarios include rationing to the masses while the upper-class get what they want. And to get everyone's mind of off the problems, a REAL war is started somewhere to get everyone looking in another direction

[sittinguy]

Thats why I buy no bigger than 1/10oz gold coin,, its easier to crap out. just kidding... maybe

[steam_cannon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Chesire', 'F')ar easier to simply have some 'terrorist attacks' on refinieries and the rail lines that supply food to the east and west coast in the winter. 6 months later most of your opposition is dead or their stores are very depleted.

Then just check the satellite photos for signs of survivors . Use drones to destroy any buildings or machinery or crops .

[neocone]

Between 1200 and 1325 there was no famines, and the prosperity of the land and climate reflected on populations. France, one of the most populous countries in the world then, reached 25 million people, 1/2 as much as live there today...

In 1325 and after, the curse of the famine came back. People learned that the bark of some trees is better than some others when it was grinded to make a horrid compound that only hasted Death.

The cult of Death was the hallmark of the calamitous 14th century, where 60-70% of the world population collapsed. France was like 12 million people in 1400.

Those who ignore history are bound to repeat it...

[Tyler_JC]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('neocone', 'B')etween 1200 and 1325 there was no famines, and the prosperity of the land and climate reflected on populations. France, one of the most populous countries in the world then, reached 25 million people, 1/2 as much as live there today...

In 1325 and after, the curse of the famine came back. People learned that the bark of some trees is better than some others when it was grinded to make a horrid compound that only hasted Death.

The cult of Death was the hallmark of the calamitous 14th century, where 60-70% of the world population collapsed. France was like 12 million people in 1400.

Those who ignore history are bound to repeat it...

[steam_cannon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Tyler_JC', 'M')oreover, less than 10% of America's energy use is directed towards the food industry.

That includes growing, harvesting, transporting, storing, cooking, refrigerating, etc.

[inculcated]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Tyler_JC', 'U')sing purely organic means we could feed the world and dramatically increase food security in developing countries.

[Tyler_JC]

Grain production is down somewhat over the past few years, sure.

But total food production is still up, dramatically, over the past 5 decades.



We have a significant supply cushion. We could lose another 25% of our per capita food production before going back to the horrible global starvation days of the 1960s...

Distribution networks and storage capacity in the third world are lacking, making hunger a problem for many.

From a purely supply/demand standpoint, everyone in this world should be overweight based on the ludicrous over production of food.

From a practical standpoint, the countries with lousy leaders or no useful resources for trade are going to starve. The industrialized world, especially the industrialized countries with large agricultural surpluses are going to survive without too much trouble (depending on how the citizenry choose to react to higher prices).

The human factor is the key variable.

[inculcated]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Tyler_JC', 'W')e could lose another 25% of our per capita food production before going back to the horrible global starvation days of the 1960s...

[Tyler_JC]

The fate of sub-Saharan Africa, India, Northern Africa, parts of China, and Mexico's city-dwellers is already sealed.

They will probably starve to death or something to that effect.

Poor food importers are going to be priced out of the market. Any poor food importer that has gone way beyond its carrying capacity is going to experience serious food availability problems (a euphemism, I know)

World Map of Grain importers

There's a map of the world in terms of net cereal imports.

Notice how large Japan, South Korea, and Spain are on that map?

Fortunately, they have something to trade for food.

Mexico, Algeria, and Egypt might not be so lucky...

Here are the cereal exporters.

France, America, Canada, Australia, Germany, Argentina, and Thailand feed the world.

I expect a decline in food production would have a far less severe impact on the food security of those countries, no?

[Judgie]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Tyler_JC', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('neocone', 'B')etween 1200 and 1325 there was no famines, and the prosperity of the land and climate reflected on populations. France, one of the most populous countries in the world then, reached 25 million people, 1/2 as much as live there today...

In 1325 and after, the curse of the famine came back. People learned that the bark of some trees is better than some others when it was grinded to make a horrid compound that only hasted Death.

The cult of Death was the hallmark of the calamitous 14th century, where 60-70% of the world population collapsed. France was like 12 million people in 1400.

Those who ignore history are bound to repeat it...

[Tyler_JC]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Judgie', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Tyler_JC', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('neocone', 'B')etween 1200 and 1325 there was no famines, and the prosperity of the land and climate reflected on populations. France, one of the most populous countries in the world then, reached 25 million people, 1/2 as much as live there today...

In 1325 and after, the curse of the famine came back. People learned that the bark of some trees is better than some others when it was grinded to make a horrid compound that only hasted Death.

The cult of Death was the hallmark of the calamitous 14th century, where 60-70% of the world population collapsed. France was like 12 million people in 1400.

Those who ignore history are bound to repeat it...

[Cornelian]

Australia's Food Producers are, at the moment, caught in general election fever where their influence is much less than once it was, claiming anything will cause food price rises right now. Even too many people wearing the colour of blue will make food prices go up. But, seriously, food producers here are in serious serious trouble - mainly because they've been producing food unsustainably in completely unsustainable environments for way too long and now it has come back to bite them on the arse and yes, food prices are on the way up.

Australia should be able to feed itself, but it has to get to grips with the concept of working with the earth, rather than against it.

[cube]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Tyler_JC', 'P')oor food importers are going to be priced out of the market....

World Map of Grain importers

Here are the cereal exporters.

France, America, Canada, Australia, Germany, Argentina, and Thailand feed the world.

[Tyler_JC]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('cube', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Tyler_JC', 'P')oor food importers are going to be priced out of the market....

World Map of Grain importers

Here are the cereal exporters.

France, America, Canada, Australia, Germany, Argentina, and Thailand feed the world.