FAO predicts 2011 20% world food price inflation

The UK Guardian yesterday:

“The UN today warned that food prices could rise by 10%-20% next year after poor harvests and an expected rundown of global reserves. More than 70 African and Asian countries will be the worst hit, said the Food and Agricultural Organisation in its monthly report.

In its gloomiest forecast since the 2007/08 food crisis, which saw food riots in more than 25 countries and 100 million extra hungry people, the report's authors urged states to prepare for hardship.”

“…food riots in more than 25 countries and 100 million extra hungry people…”

That was 2007/8, how severe will 2011 (and beyond) be?
Check what a non-UN world food analyst says about wheat (the 20% wheat flour price increase I noticed locally)
‘"2011 will not be a good harvest. The condition of winter wheat crops is not good. Neither the US nor Russia are expecting good harvests," said Lester Brown, founder of the Washington-based Worldwatch Institute.’

Buy food and stockpile now, even if you have to use credit. Food won’t get any cheaper in the short or medium term. Stockpiling food and growing food (including raising livestock) are two of the best ways to increase food security.

We have been warned.

Even more food price increases

Three months ago, I paid $50 per 10kg bag of wheat flour. That same bag cost $60 today. An increase of 20%! Or a basic commodity that all Trinis use, regularly (if not daily).

Chicken prices are up at one of the biggest producers. An increase varying between 3-5%. Prepare for even more food inflation in the short and medium term.


On a positive note, I bought more food grade lidded buckets. So more food storage. The garden continues to produce fresh tasty healthy food, with enough to share in the bounty. Growing new soil is really fun, rewarding and satisfying.

Food prices rise yet again

Food prices are on the rise. Again. Remember the bad old days of 2007? They’re here again. In the last 4-6 weeks I’ve noticed a trend developing. Quietly – as is the custom – packages have shrunk in content, but the prices remain the same. Prices have increased, sometimes with attendant re-branding. Sometimes not.

Sugar, flour, tinned beans and peas, fruit juices, even chicken Vienna sausages. The increases have ranged between 10-33.3%.

Our family has started doing what we can to alleviate the strain these price increases will create. We are planting more food, while buying whatever we can in bulk. Planting food and sharing your garden’s bounty has a wonderful effect. There is instant gratification from being charitable, and there is sometimes a delayed gratification from receiving homegrown food from other gardeners. Talk about a win-win situation!



The Ministry of Food Production celebrates this year’s World Food Day, themed “United Against Hunger” with a Food Fest Exhibition at the University of the West Indies St Augustine campus tomorrow, Friday 12th November 2010.

The Ministry promises,
“visitors can check out Exhibitor Booths showcasing local agricultural produce, seafood and livestock, including local game (wild meat), get some shopping done at the Market Place, see live animals on display, sample tasty local delicacies such as wild meat, vegetable burgers, cassava granola and crayfish, and take a cinematic tour of our islands’ agricultural heritage.

There will also be tours of The UWI Zoology museum, diabetes testing, and free seeds and seedlings available.”

Sounds promising.

Smart to be prepared

Colonel Rodney Smart, acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) says what is obvious: “…it's better to have a well prepared citizenry that an under prepared one,". This blog has been beating that particular drum for years. In fact, preparedness is part of our raison d’etre.

AirgunsTT commends the ODPM and our national government on decisive action last Friday, with regard to warnings on Tropical Storm Tomas. Just look at the resultant damage to Barbados and St Vincent and the Grenadines. They received late warnings.