Читать книгу The Atlas of Food - Erik Millstone - Страница 15

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Russia – food price freeze

Kazakhstan – export ban

Kyrgyzstan – bread price

In October 2007, the Russian government persuaded food producers and retail chains to freeze the price of some staple foods for an agreed period to try and avoid unrest in the run-up to national elections.

Early in 2008, the government warned that it would be limiting grain exports.

The price of bread in the capital increased by 50% in 2007, while salaries and pensions increased by only 10%.

China – biofuel crop ban

In June 2007, China banned production of ethanol from food crops.

China – dairy demand

The increasing demand for milk and dairy products in China has led to it not only being the third-largest milk-producing country but the largest importer of milk products.

Mauritania – rising food prices

In November 2007, people protested at rising food prices. The price of locally grown foods had increased by 28%, and imported wheat by 75%.

Yemen – food riots

In August and September 2007, people protested in Yemen about rising food prices, caused by higher import prices.

China – big freeze

Early in 2008, the most severe winter weather in 50 years killed millions of livestock and damaged crops, leading to soaring food prices.

Bangladesh – cyclone

In 2007, a cyclone destroyed a rice crop worth $600 million and the price of rice rose by 70%.

Ghana and Benin – biofuel crops

Australia – drought

Plans are being made to plant millions of hectares with jatropha and sugar cane to produce biofuels.

The long-running drought affecting much of Australia led to a halving of the wheat harvest in 2007, and to no grain being exported from east-coast ports.

Tanzania – biofuel crops

Thousands of small-scale farmers have been evicted to make way for jatropha and sugar plantations.

Zambezi valley – floods

Substantial flooding early in 2008 will have a devastating effect on agriculture in the region.

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