honey bees and food crisis

"Viruses and mites have, according to the U.N., killed 85% of bees in the Middle East, 10% to 30% of bees in Europe, and nearly a third of American bees each year. This is a big deal--over 70 of the 100 crops that provide 90% of the world's food are pollinated by bees (that's $83 billion worth of crops)."


Interesting statistics about the honeybee situation around the world and the way it affects food production

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G20 farm ministers tackle high food prices, agreeing to a watered-down declaration that fell short of France's proposals to tighten regulation of commodity markets.

Update:  looks like the other farm ministers weren't convinced to support France's push for new regulations


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Credit: Reuters/Jacky Naegelen

(Reuters) - G20 farm ministers settled a deal on Thursday to tackle high food prices, agreeing to a watered-down declaration that fell short of France's ambitious proposals to tighten regulation of commodity markets.

G20 agriculture summit to discuss food security and regulating global markets

Rising food prices were discussed in Europe recently: interesting French position on tariffs and regulations.

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"World food prices that rose 37% in a year, driving 44 million more people into poverty, are a “plague” that needs action from world leaders now, said French President Nicolas Sarkozy during the two-day Group of 20 agriculture ministers in Paris." A market that is not regulated is not a market, it’s a lottery in which fortune smiles on the most cynical, instead of rewarding hard work, investment and the creation of value” underlined Sarkozy."