However, while grain consumption continues growing, grain prices are also increasing.  Droughts and floods happen at anywhere in the world almost every year.  There are some prolonged wars and conflicts in the world.  As the result of these factors as well as Increase in grain prices, unfortunately, even though many people are working very hard to make poverty reduce, the number of people suffering from food shortages has been increasing for last 10 years.

These factors are all linked together.  For example, let’s say that in order to reduce the poverty, one country invests money in its industrial sector.  Its economic level will increase, factories will hire more employees, and the low incomes of the people might be improved to some degree.  At the same time, people’s diet will also improve, meat consumption will increase, and more grain will be used for livestock feed.  Industrialization and expansion of cities might sometimes cause shortages of water and farmland.

The loss of forests lowers the amount of water kept in the land, and increases the damage caused by typhoon.  Due to the influence of climate changes caused by global warming, there have been more floods in Asia, and drought damage is spreading in Africa.  The financial crisis made grain prices soar in 2008.  South Korea and North Korea used to be one nation, but why is it that only the people in the North are starving?  Is the policy of controlling population growth compatible with the human rights of couples who want to have babies and build a happy family?

The global food problem is intertwined with many other global issues.