The Stream, December 15: Water, Food and the Developing World

Prices for farmland in the United States are rising as water-strapped countries like China turn to foreign sources for their grain, Forbes reported.

China plans to boost its domestic grain production by expanding its man-made rain programs, according to the 12th Five-Year Plan, China Daily reported.

Livestock production needs to become more efficient to provide for the growing meat demands of the developing world, the UN News Centre reported, citing the Food and Agriculture Organization’s newly released World Livestock 2011 report. Current livestock operations can pollute groundwater and emit greenhouse gases—problems that need to be addressed, the report said.

Land grabs in Africa and Asia are negatively effecting the poor, a study by the International Land Coalition found, AlertNet reported. Critics worry that the rights of rural citizens are being ignored as rich countries rush to acquire large tracts of water-rich farmland to grow food.

Permits for a taconite iron ore mine in northern Wisconsin could gain traction if a new proposal passes the state legislature, Reuters reported. Opponents of the mine say granting a permit would conflict with the Great Lakes Compact due to the estimated 41 million gallons of water the mine would use daily.

The Stream is a daily digest spotting global water trends. To get more water news, follow Circle of Blue on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.

Codi Kozacek

A news correspondent for Circle of Blue based out of Hawaii. She writes The Stream, Circle of Blue’s daily digest of international water news trends. Her interests include food security, ecology and the Great Lakes.
Contact Codi Kozacek