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Food shortages and price hikes caused by extreme weather will be three times more likely over the coming decades, according to a new report.

The U.K.-U.S. Taskforce on Extreme Weather and Global Food System Resilience found that unless better planning, modeling and trade arrangements are put in place, massive disruptions to our food supply - the kind that usually only occur once a century - will happen every 30 years.

Extreme weather in areas that produce our most important crops is largely the cause. A massive drought is already underway in California - the world's richest food-producing region - causing a loss of 30% of its cropland at a value of nearly $2 billion.

The U.S. isn't alone in feeling the impact of extreme weather. Venezuela is undergoing beer shortages because of a heat wave. Violence has even struck food lines there.

Countries that are heavy grain importers will be the most vulnerable to severe food impacts, the task force reported. Egypt has even begun taking steps to thwart shocks to its food supply by boosting wheat production. Food protests and riots broke out there in 2008 when food prices rose sharply.

China is also taking preventative steps. Among other strategies to shore up supplies, it is securing agricultural production capacity in sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere in the developing world.

The U.S. and European Union will likely be sheltered from widespread impacts because of strong economies and the ability to outbid other countries for food supplies, the report found. Still, it says global cooperation needs to happen to prevent large food shocks. That means policy and trade agreements that take into account sharing water resources and banning restrictions on certain staple crops.

Resiliency efforts are key to battling weather extremes and crop production. India, for example, is highly dependent on monsoon patterns for rainfall. Linked to those patterns is its agricultural system. A dramatic shift in weather could throw off productivity.

With a " Godzilla " of an El Nino event predicted for this coming winter season in the U.S., an extreme weather case study on food supplies could be on the horizon.

Steps should be taken now to prevent food problems in the future. The task force recommends five solutions:

* Countries with high vulnerability to global grain production shocks should take measures to reduce their exposure.

* Greater investments in agricultural research should be made to reverse losses in yield-gain and to improve food system efficiencies.

* Unsustainable withdrawals of ground water and any unnecessary uses of non-renewable energy should be stopped.

* Public-private partnerships, or cooperation between governments and businesses, should be fostered to lessen the potential impact of future global grain production shocks.

* Better resiliency efforts should be developed to reduce risks and manage the effects of storms and extreme weather events.

We often think of the immediate destruction that weather brings, whether through floods, wildfires, wind or snow. But the effects after the event can be just as serious. Food, shelter and water are the three basic prongs to survival, and all are coming under attack by extreme weather.
Thomas M. Kostigen is the founder of TheClimateSurvivalis t.com and a New York Times best-selling author and journalist. He is the National Geographic author of "The Extreme Weather Survival Guide: Understand, Prepare, Survive, Recover" and the NG Kids book " Extreme Weather: Surviving Tornadoes, Tsunamis, Hailstorms, Thundersnow, Hurricanes and More!" Follow him @weathersurvival, or email kostigen@theclimatesurvivalist.com. MORE FROM THOMAS M. KOSTIGEN:
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Extreme weather to cause extreme food shortages, task force finds

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Food shortages and price hikes caused by extreme weather will be three times more likely over the coming decades, according to a new report. The U.K.-U.S. Taskforce on Extreme Weather and Global Food System Resilience found that unless better planning, modeling and trade arrangements are put in place, massive disruptions to our food supply - the kind that usually only occur once a century - will happen every 30 years.

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The rates of obesity and Type 2 diabetes among children in the U.S. is rapidly rising. Many children with Type 2 diabetes don't even know they have the disease. Neil White, a pediatrician at WUSM and St. Louis Children's Hospital, outlines symptoms and risk factors for diabetes in the following St. Louis Post-Dispatch article.

Diabetes takes a toll on kids

(Republished with permission from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. This article originally ran in the Health & Fitness section on Monday, March 7, 2005)

By Dr. Neil H. White
Symptoms of diabetes

The classic symptoms of both types of diabetes are similar:

Excessive urination.

Excessive thirst.

Nighttime urination.

Excessive eating or hunger.

Fatigue.

These symptoms tend to progress rapidly in Type 1 diabetes, and may result in vomiting, acidosis, dehydration and the life-threatening condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis.

In Type 2 diabetes, however, the onset of symptoms can be relatively slow and may go unrecognized. Many people with Type 2 diabetes do not know they have it.

Diabetes takes a toll on kids

Diabetes has been around for thousands of years, at least since ancient Egypt. Before the discovery of insulin in 1922, childhood diabetes was rapidly fatal. Since then, childhood diabetes has become a chronic disease with serious long-term complications.

Medical advances have improved the ability to control diabetes. However, diabetes in children and teenagers is increasing, threatening the health of the next generation of young adults.

What is it?

Diabetes mellitus is a group of disorders that have in common high blood sugar and the risk of damage to tissues and organs. There are two major types:

Type 1 (also called juvenile diabetes).

Type 2 (also called adult-onset diabetes).

In Type 1 diabetes, the cells of the pancreas that make insulin are destroyed. Often, the body's immune system destroys these cells, sort of like friendly fire. Without insulin, blood sugar rises and complications occur. Lifelong insulin treatment is required.

In Type 2 diabetes, organs and tissues are resistant to insulin; that is, more insulin is needed to have the same effect. When the insulin-making cells can no longer keep up with the extra insulin needed, blood sugar becomes high and diabetes occurs.

The American Diabetes Association estimates that there are 19 million people with diabetes in the United States, and that about 5 million do not know they have it. Most of them have Type 2 diabetes.

There has been little increase in the incidence of Type 1 diabetes over the past few decades. But the number of people worldwide with Type 2 diabetes is increasing in epidemic proportions.

A major reason for this is the increase in obesity, which is associated with insulin resistance. A study called the Diabetes Prevention Program showed that if adults at risk for diabetes lost weight, they could reduce the likelihood of getting diabetes by 58 percent.

Diabetes and children

Obesity and diabetes are taking their toll on our children.

From 1963 to 1970, about 4.5 percent of children were overweight. From 1999 to 2002, the number had increased to 16 percent, and continues to rise.

In 1985, experts estimated that about 1 to 2 percent of children with diabetes had Type 2. By 1995, the number stood at about 17 percent. More recently, in some areas of the country, 30 to 40 percent of children with diabetes now have Type 2.

Because of that increase, the American Diabetes Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend routine screening of children at higher risk for Type 2 diabetes. At-risk children include those who are obese and also:

Have a family history of diabetes.

Are in a high-risk population (African-American, Hispanic, American Indian, Asian-American).

Have other conditions, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

One way to determine if your child is overweight is to determine his body mass index. For more information about calculating and interpreting children's BMI, go to www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi.

Treatment for Type 1 diabetes requires lifelong use of insulin, which can only be given by injections or through an insulin pump. Managing Type 1 diabetes involves a complex regimen of insulin, diet, exercise and glucose monitoring.

Treating Type 2 diabetes can be very different. Some people will need insulin; for others, diet, exercise and weight loss will provide adequate control of the condition. Others respond to a variety of medications that can be taken by mouth.

Medical study

Physicians have a lot of experience in using these medications in adults, but less is known about using them in children. The National Institutes of Health is conducting a project to learn more about how to treat and prevent Type 2 diabetes in children. The first part of this project is under way at 12 medical centers in the United States, including St. Louis Children's Hospital and Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital.

Families with children 10 to 18 years old who have had Type 2 diabetes for less than two years can find out more about the project by calling 1-877-785-2329.

Dr. Neil H. White is a professor of pediatrics and medicine at Washington University School of Medicine and is in the division of Endocrinology and Diabetes at St. Louis Children's Hospital.

Copyright 2005 St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Inc.

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Obesity, Type 2 diabetes rates growing rapidly among children | The Source | Washington University in St. Louis

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The rates of obesity and Type 2 diabetes among children in the U.S. is rapidly rising. Many children with Type 2 diabetes don't even know they have the disease. Neil White, a pediatrician at WUSM and St. Louis Children's Hospital, outlines symptoms and risk factors for diabetes in the following St.

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Taking the Desert Out of the City

In St. Louis City, due to closures and relocations of existing grocery stores that occurred since the late 1990s, many areas were left without access to full-service grocery stores. As a result, the City of St. Louis had a number of food deserts emerge within its boundaries. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food deserts as "urban neighborhoods and rural towns without ready access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food. "For urban areas, not having access to a full-service grocery store within one mile is how the USDA defines a food desert.(For rural areas, not having access to a full-service grocery store within 10 miles is indicative of a food desert.) Food deserts often affect low-income individuals more because they often do not have reliable transportation to shop outside of their neighborhoods. This leaves them at the mercy of the unhealthy offerings found in convenience stores and fast food outlets within their neighborhoods.

All that has changed in the last few months. The City has been working hard to reduce the number of food deserts within its limits. Through collaborative government and community efforts, a few new, full-service grocery stores have opened around the City.

The first one is the brand new Save-a-Lot on South Jefferson. This store opened in December 2013 at an old Foodland site. The store offers access to a full line of grocery products including a well-stocked produce area. While Save-a-Lot is a "no-frills" type of store, one can have access to a variety of healthy foods from all the food groups at a reasonable price. Its location on the bus line may increase access for local shoppers without personal transportation.

Another recently opened store is the new Aldi's near the corner of Delmar and Kingshighway. This store opened early in November 2013. Located at an old Schnucks site, this store provides an affordable alternative to the more expensive Straub's further south on Kingshighway. Aldi's is similar to Save-a-Lot, no frills but lower prices. Like the Save-a-Lot, Aldi's provides a variety of healthy foods from all the food groups. It is also located adjacent to bus lines.

The most exciting new store is the Fields Market off of Lafayette, just a short walk from Soulard. This store is located behind the Walgreens that is across the street from the Georgian, the condo complex developed out of the old City Hospital building. Unlike the other two stores, this store distinguishes itself by adding more frills. When you walk in, it kind of resembles Whole Foods. While not as big or as stocked with items, it has its own charm. Fields Market prides itself on sourcing its produce, meats and whatever else it can from local producers. One unique feature is its wine bar. Customers are welcome to sip a glass of wine as they shop the store. Fields Market ups the ante when it comes to customer service too. Customers can surrender their list to eager employees who will shop for them. This full service grocery store is well-stocked with fresh produce; fresh meat, fish and poultry; and freshly-made bakery items. While smaller than a Schnucks, Shop-n-Save or Dierbergs store, there is access to the full complement of grocery items.

Access to a variety of healthy foods is important to building a healthy community. The opening of these new stores, coupled with efforts like the Healthy Corner Store project is contributing to a better St. Louis. However, the work is not done; access to healthy foods is only a part of the equation for a healthy community. By alleviating some of the pressures caused by food deserts and improving access to healthy foods, St. Louis has certainly taken an important step towards a healthier City.
Health Department City of St. Louis

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In St. Louis City, due to closures and relocations of existing grocery stores that occurred since the late 1990s, many areas were left without access to full-service grocery stores. As a result, the City of St. Louis had a number of food deserts emerge within its boundaries. The U.S.

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Nearly one-third of households on SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, still have to visit a food pantry to keep themselves fed, according to data highlighted this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In 2014, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program supported 23 million American households. The same year, 32 percent of all households who received SNAP in the previous 30 days reported they had visited a food pantry, the USDA says. And 23 percent of households using the Women, Infants and Children program visited a pantry that year, as had 23 percent of households receiving free or reduced-price school lunch.

"Generally, we believe that people aren't going to go to pantries if they don't need the food," says Alisha Coleman-Jensen, an economist at the USDA's Economic Research Service and a specialist in food insecurity. "I think you can read into [the new data] that SNAP benefits aren't going far enough to cover all of their food expenses."

That lines up with other research suggesting that SNAP benefits rarely sustain families throughout an entire month. A 2013 qualitative study of 3,300 SNAP households by the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service found that "SNAP households experience ... financial strain that is eased but not alleviated by participation in the SNAP program."

Indeed, that study found that many SNAP clients - about 45 percent - limited food consumption, usually by skipping meals, to make it through the month. Other research has shown that hospital admissions for hypoglycemia -low blood sugar, a condition that can be treated with a healthful diet - spike by 27 percent for low-income households during that last week of the month, while high-income households show no similar trend.

A forthcoming study from University of Pennsylvania researchers bears out this shortfall in cold dollars and cents. Spending among 700 SNAP customers in Chester, Pa., dropped by 72 percent between the first week of the month and the last, says Eliza Whiteman, one of the study's authors. And while Whiteman cautions that the study sample was small, making extrapolation dicey, she wonders whether making SNAP distribution more frequent - biweekly or weekly, for example, rather than monthly - might "smooth out" the gaps in people's diets.

Still, the core finding seemed to echo what Coleman-Jensen at USDA found. "It definitely points at the potential that SNAP benefits aren't sufficient," says Whiteman.

Tracie McMillan is the author of The American Way of Eating, a New York Times best-seller, and a senior fellow at the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism at Brandeis University. You can follow her on Twitter @tmmcmillan.

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The SNAP Gap: Benefits Aren't Enough To Keep Many Recipients Fed

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Nearly one-third of households on SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, still have to visit a food pantry to keep themselves fed, according to data highlighted this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 2014, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program supported 23 million American households.

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Wealthy people are eating better than ever, while the poor are eating worse.

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