Number crunchers

Food Facts
The dramatic shortage and rising prices of basic foods worldwide have become headline news. Can you name three reasons for this trend?
See page 27 for some answers.

800
million people around the world go hungry each day

73 million
The number of people in 80 countries that the UN World Food Programme hope to feed through emergency aid in 2008

36
countries face a severe food crisis due to rising prices in 2008

130%
The increase in the cost of wheat worldwide from 2007 to 2008

6.7m tonnes
The amount of food that UK households throw out every year

150%
The increase in meat consumption in China between 1980 and 2008, leading to more pasture land for animals and less land to grow basic food crops such as rice

Sources: UNESCO, BBC, Bloomberg