In December of 2010, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Department measured a group of food commodities. They noted that the prices for basic food items, such as wheat and rice, are rapidly rising. The group notes the increase riots in several developing countries and a degree of social unrest amongst developed nations because of the increase in food prices. They believe the trend of rising food prices will only continue over the next year.
The group notes several important factors in their report. They point to adverse weather conditions that have struck several countries in the past several years as well as the current economic crisis throughout the known world.
The group goes on to explain one of our worlds the most unique problems as it relates to the production. They believe that worldwide we produce enough if to feed everybody. The problem lies in the distribution of said food products. The commission reports that by simply changing our need to determine why food prices are high to a need to determine how to better feed our citizens of the world, we will quickly and effectively address the growing problem of starvation throughout the world.
This idea is unlikely to be accepted by many developed nations. Perhaps the attitude of the western world is incorrect; however, today, more and more people in developed countries are facing a problem they have never before seen, they are suffering because of the rise in food prices.
We can discuss rising food costs all we want, we can even talk about redistributing food so that everyone gets an equal share; however, until the issue of food production is solved on a worldwide basis we are unlikely to see a change in the way we view poverty and access to food.