2013 Food prices are triggering civil unrest

World grain reserves are now at historically low levels, due to extreme weather events in the previous year. Failing harvests were particularly bad in the United States, Russia and Eastern Europe.** As the world consumes more than it can produce, the resulting increase in food costs is sparking riots and bringing down a number of governments in Africa and the Middle East.** In the poorest countries, between 60-80% of household budgets are spent on food.* Though less of a problem in the developed world, consumers nevertheless feel the impact.* Restaurants are taking some foods off the menu, while in supermarkets, the cost of bread and vegetables is becoming noticeably higher. This alarming trend worsens in the decades ahead, as millions face hunger. By 2030, it has become a major global crisis, with a doubling of prices for key staples including wheat and rice.*