Mmmm. Sustenance.

Not much in the US Press about this. Maybe it's a time lag? Maybe few outside of Europe actually read reports by the the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization?

Maybe it just isn't news to people who see lifestyle salvation (or absolution) in petro-powered-corn-powered cars.

7 December 2006, Rome – Cereal prices, particularly for wheat and maize, have reached levels not seen for a decade, according to FAO’s latest Food Outlook report.

Poor harvests in key producing countries and a fast-growing demand for biofuel production have driven up grain prices, while supply constraints have also dominated the rice economy, the report said.

But don't forget about the demand for "Swheat Scoop." Thanks to "its natural wheat enzymes" that eliminate odor and allow cat-lovers simply to flush Fluffy's poop, this is a cat litter that aims to keep our landfills from being usurped by conventional "clay-based" (boo! boo to you, clay!) litters. This wheat, incidentally, is non-food grade.

The report fails to mention the farm subsidies in wealthy countries like ours. You know, the "invisible hand."

Phronesisaical's official response to the report? Eat more photogenic fruit.