IFA warns food crisis may be around corner

Paris-The International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA) last week warned world governments that a “food crisis” may be around the corner. IFA warned that farmers are having difficulty getting credit to plant crops and the rapidly changing prices of agricultural commodities and inputs make it risky for them to invest in fertilizer. IFA also notes that low grain inventories and a steadily growing population, combined with a small harvest in 2009, could result in a considerable rise in grain prices. “A new surge in food prices would dramatically raise the number of undernourished people, leading to political unrest in many countries,” said IFA, which said key players at its recent governing council meeting in Ho Chi Minh City expressed these concerns.