From the farmers’ field to the grocery store to the food
processor, consumers around the world can’t help but notice that
the price of food keeps going up. And it’s going to continue for
years, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization. Global food costs rose in April for the ninth time
in 10 months, nearing a record reached in February, according to
Bloomberg News. The bottom lines for everybody, from McDonald’s
(NYSE: MCD) to a market vendor in a developing country. Food
inflation has caused social instability since ancient times and
continues to do so today. For instance, according to the U.N.,
almost 9 million people in the Horn of Africa need humanitarian
assistance as a result of a severe drought, the effects of which
are being worsened by high food prices and conflict. More
countries are in similar predicaments.