There is a mounting world food shortage problem in many areas around the globe. The world economy is in such turmoil that this could easily cause a situation where world food shortages become a widespread global issue. There has been a dramatic increase in food prices around the globe for stable foods such as maize, lentils, flour, and oil. These basic foods are the substance that many families around the world live on from day to day. When the costs of these essential foods rise, it dramatically affects those relying on them. For example, what used to take a days wage to buy may now take three weeks wages to purchase. That places many families in dire circumstances.
One other food shortage that is becoming a very big issue is the lack of rice in Asian countries. The price of rice over the past 20 years has risen substantially. Many farmers in some Asian countries such as the Philippines are no longer growing rice because they have found more profitable crops to grow in their fields. Drought has also prevented some rice crops from growing well.