|
|
|
US food prices hurting
15 Feb 2008
Food producers in the US have called on their government to take steps to increase output and force down prices. With surging demand from emerging nations and the biofuels industry a range of measures are being suggested including slashing the conservation program that compensates farmers for leaving fields fallow and restricting exports, although the latter is unlikely to succeed. Food prices in the US have risen by 5 per cent over the last year, compared with 4 per cent inflation, and analysts believe that food prices will rise even faster this year. Nations such as Ukraine and Australia that are usually key wheat producers have had poor seasons this year meaning that hard red spring wheat that is used for high-quality bread and pizza dough is in very short supply.
The Australian, 15/2/2008
|
|
