The Rising Cost of Survival

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Socio-economic turmoil - lawlessness, poverty, lack of adequate medical facilities and attention, low to no employment, low wages, disease, no clean drinking water or water for irrigation and shortages of food or unaffordable food can all cause socio-economic pressure to build in many countries that were once stable environments for investment.

In 2007 and 2008 roughly 40 food riots occurred – two of the more publicized examples were when people took to the streets after rising corn prices made tortillas very expensive in Mexico and skyrocketing food prices in Haiti led to the overthrow of that country’s Prime Minister.

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported a five per cent increase in the international price of food over July and August 2010.

"I think everyone is wondering if we are going to have a repeat of 2008 when there were food riots around the world." Johanna Nesseth Tuttle, director, Global Food Security Project

The world’s developing economies mostly rely on food imports to sustain themselves. On average their citizens spend a much larger percentage of their wages on food than do their counterparts in developed nations. Some published estimates are as high as 50 to 60 percent of income going towards food. (more)