WORLD GRAINS PRODUCTION BALANCE SHEET 4: Land devoted to Wheat, Corn, Rice

Experts predict a food crisis in the near term. In developed economies, it is still just a more than usual increase in food prices. There are shortages in some countries. In others, there are food riots.

What are the LIABILITIES in the Balance Sheet of World Grains Production that has led to this situation?

Overall, there have been no increases in agricultural lands to keep pace with population growth and its impact on demand for food.

In addition to the increased land use for meat & dairy (which require more land than grains), rice and corn lands have been converted to residential uses.

The drive to shift from fossil fuels to biofuels (to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and to mitigate global warming) has also eroded the allocation of land to food production. The steep rise of the price of petroleum has added impetus to the production of biofuels and the Food vs Fuel conflict.

Data from Philippine Daily Inquirer:  “Tensions Rise as World Faces Food Crisis” (1 April) &

“Hungry Crowds Spell Trouble for World Leaders” (2 April)

Balance Sheet graphics by Ren Garcia / Image from Microsoft Clipart