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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Rising Food Prices: Has Ethanol Backfired?

    For 30 years, food prices have been declining worldwide, so much that, in western countries, obesity has become a major problem. But it appears that the era of cheap food has come to an end. As prices are rising all over the world, many Americans don’t have enough to eat.

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    For 30 years, food prices have been declining worldwide, so much that, in western countries, obesity has become a major problem. But it appears that the era of cheap food has come to an end. As prices are rising all over the world, many Americans don’t have enough to eat. The latest report from the Department of Agriculture finds that almost 11% of American households experience "food insecurity" for part of the year. Thirteen million families don't have enough to eat. Food banks that serve hungry people are not getting the donations they need to do their job. The Farm Bill increases money for food stamps and other programs. Will that make up the difference? Will massive support for corn-based ethanol make things better or worse?

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Food Prices and Hunger in the United States
    1. 1:39EPA Blocks California Bid to Limit Emissions from Cars
    2. 7:32Rising Food Prices: Has Ethanol Backfired?You’re reading this
    3. 41:58Democrats in Congress End Year with a Whimper
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Carina Miller

      Assistant Producer, To the Point

    • KCRW placeholder

      Karen Radziner

      Managing Producer, To the Point & Which Way LA?

    • KCRW placeholder

      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Mark Nord

      Sociologist, US Department of Agriculture's Food Assistance Branch

    • KCRW placeholder

      Maura Daly

      Vice President of Government Relations, Second Harvest

    • KCRW placeholder

      Joe Victor

      Vice President for Marketing, Allendale

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Food Prices and Hunger in the United States
    1. 1:39EPA Blocks California Bid to Limit Emissions from Cars
    2. 7:32Rising Food Prices: Has Ethanol Backfired?You’re reading this
    3. 41:58Democrats in Congress End Year with a Whimper
    Back to To the Point