Haroon Akram-Lodhi speaks about the causes of world hunger.  
Photo: Shannon VanRaes

Population growth not the cause of world hunger: economist

For some the equation is simple — more people on the planet means more people go hungry. Not for Haroon Akram-Lodhi. The economist and Trent University professor who specializes in the political economy of agrarian change in developing capitalist countries, says equating a growing population with global hunger is not only incorrect, but creates a



CME expects volume to return in time

Reuters / CME Group’s plan to scale back its trading day for grain contracts will likely provide a boost to volume and liquidity, but traders said it will take time for investors to return to the market. “I think if they compress the hours again… it serves the needs of the customers who actually use

German flour mills fined for anti-competitive behaviour

Hamburg / Reuters /German cartel agency BKA has imposed 41 million euros ($54.7 million) in fines on 22 flour mills and the German flour mills association for anti-competitive behaviour. BKA said it levied the fines for agreements in the marketing of flour. The investigation started in 2008 with searches of flour mills, and previous fines


Land and water ‘grabbing’ affects 62 countries

As world food and energy demands grow, nations and some corporations increasingly are looking to acquire quality agricultural land for food production. Some nations are gaining land by buying up property — and accompanying water resources — in other, generally less-wealthy countries. Sometimes called “land grabbing,” this practice can put strains on land and water

French bank suspends agricultural fund

Reuters / BNP Paribas, France’s No. 1 listed bank, has suspended a 160-million-euro ($214-million) agricultural commodities fund after international aid group Oxfam criticized French banks for speculating on food prices. “We are suspending subscriptions,” a spokeswoman for BNP said of its Parvest World Agriculture fund, explaining the move as part of the bank’s policy on


Glencore director questions corn-based biofuel

dubai / reuters / A director of commodity trading giant Glencore is questioning the conversion of corn into ethanol biofuel, saying it can contribute to higher prices. Critics of using foodstuffs to make fuel say the process can drive up food prices by reducing available supplies, hitting the world’s poorest people hardest. Responding to a

Talking turkey over energy

The pre-American Thanksgiving decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to deny the meat industry requests for a waiver on that country’s renewable fuel standard did little to calm the rhetoric between the livestock and ethanol sectors over who should have access to limited corn supplies this year. Shortly after the announcement, the National Turkey



Huge crop losses in southern Haiti from storm

As Hurricane Sandy barrelled toward the U.S. East Coast Oct. 29, the full extent of the storm’s havoc on Haiti was just beginning to emerge. Extensive damage to crops throughout the southern third of the country, as well as the high potential for a spike in cases of cholera and other water-borne diseases, could mean