FOOD AROUND THE WORLD

Remarkable images of families from different parts of the world. They are surrounded by the food they consume in one week. The cost of that food is included. What do you notice?

Germany: The Melander family of Bargteheide Food expenditure for one week: Euros or $500.07

United States: The Revis family of North Carolina Food expenditure for one week: $341.98

Japan: The Ukita family of Kodaira City Food expenditure for one week: 37,699 Yen or $317.25

ITALY: THE MANZO FAMILY OF SICILY FOOD EXPENDITURE FOR ONE WEEK: EUROS OR $260.1

Mexico: The Casales family of Cuernavaca: Food expenditure for one week: 1, Mexican Pesos or $189.09

Poland: The Sobczynscy family of Konstancin-Jeziorna Food expenditure for one week: Zlotys or $151.27

Egypt: The Ahmed family of Cairo Food expenditure for one week: Egyptian Pounds or $68.53

Ecuador: The Ayme family of Tingo Food expenditure for one week: $31.55

Bhutan: The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village Food expenditure for one week: ngultrum or $5.03

Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23

If you calculated the amount of money spent on one person in each family in a week it would be: Germany $ U.S. $85.50 Japan $79.31 Italy $52.02 Mexico $37.82 Poland $30.25 Egypt $5.71 Ecuador $3.51 Bhutan $0.39 Chad $0.21 The amount of money spent on one member of the Melander family (Germany) in one week could sustain 595 people in Chad for the same amount of time.

HUNGER FACT SHEET Global Hunger & Poverty  Each day, over 26,000 children under the age of 5 die  More than 840 million people in the world don't get enough to eat.  143 million children under age 5 in the developing world are underweight because of poor nutrition.  400 million people worldwide have died  under-nutrition contributes to 53 percent of deaths among children under 5 globally.  2.1 billion people live on less than $2 per day.

FOOD PRICES ARE INCREASING AROUND THE WORLD: Butter prices are up 31% Cheddar cheese prices, up 65% Nonfat dry milk prices, up 117% Broiler chickens, up 17.5% Beef, select, up 12.8%

WHY? THE FACTORS DRIVING HIGHER FOOD PRICES ARE UNLIKELY TO GO AWAY ANY TIME SOON: Higher distribution costs.  Energy hits on two fronts: It costs more to process food and it costs more to move it all to market. World demand.  The "China effect" on energy prices has been well documented. But it also affects food. Food exports have grown as living standards in China, India and other growing economies have risen. That's good for the economy but not for prices.

WHY? Ethanol.  The ethanol boom has driven corn prices up 70% in a year. Now more land is planted in corn, and soybeans, wheat, oats, and barley are all up from 5% to 35%.  Higher corn prices mean higher prices for animals in the food chain that eat it - such as chickens, cows, and hogs.  Corn is also a key ingredient in a long list of processed foods like breakfast cereal, and so far, producers have been able to pass these cost increases on as another result from growing prices in the economy.

Doubling of food prices over the last few years could potentially push 100million people in low income countries deeper into poverty World responses have been varied  India: food caps ensuring food prices don’t exponentially keep soaring  China: imposing export taxes on agriculture  UN food program: appeal for more funds  World bank: requesting $500 million towards crisis

DISCUSS What effect could increased hunger and poverty in developing countries have on developed countries? What effect could increased hunger and poverty in developed countries have on developing countries? If increased funds and resources are placed on the use of grains for ethanol production what will happen to food prices? What will happen to those in poorer nations who typically depend on these staple foods for nourishment? What role does the growing world population play in all of this? What role do YOU play in all of this?

High Food Prices & Fears Of Shortages Have People Worried Global Pulse: Biofuel - Another Flawed Policy? (4:00)Global Pulse: Biofuel - Another Flawed Policy? Global food shortage linked to biofuel use