World food prices at record high.
On Thursday, March 3, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced that continued unprecedented rises for eight consecutive months has resulted in February's levels being the highest since record-keeping began 20 years ago.

Reasons behind the steep increases are thought to include ongoing adverse weather conditions due to climate change, such as in Canada where rising temperatures have significantly reduced wheat production, in China following severe droughts, and Russia after the catastrophic heat wave and fires.

Other factors include higher oil prices, which affect food production and transportation and internal conflicts as well as disasters that spur governments and individuals to stockpile staples. With the FAO forecasting continued rises for the rest of the year, fears of an unfolding food shortage crisis are being raised.

Highlighting the seriousness of the situation and the need for actions such as curbing market speculation and food-based biofuels, Oxfam's food policy adviser Thierry Kesteloot stated, “Millions more people are sliding into poverty as they struggle to afford basic food supplies. A sit-and-wait attitude among governments in the hope that there will be good harvests over the next few months means gambling with people's lives.”

We are thankful for the concerned observations of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in raising awareness of this global issue.

Our prayers for the enactment of sustainable measures that ensure plentiful sustenance for all. Speaking about the long-term rise in global food prices and shortages during an October 2009 videoconference in Indonesia, Supreme Master Ching Hai expressed concern while offering a comprehensive solution.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110303/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_un_food_prices ,
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/03/04/World-food-prices-up-for-eighth-month/UPI-42941299220983/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/8359643/Food-prices-to-carry-on-climbing-alll-year.html http://www.france24.com/en/20110303-world-food-prices-hit-record-highs-un-food-agency

Aulacese (Vietnamese) scientist finds cure to save crops from disease.
With the viral affliction known as black streaked dwarf disease noted to be worsening as weather conditions change with global warming, thousands of hectares of rice, maize and even sorghum have been ruined in countries like Âu Lạc (Vietnam) and China.

However, Hứa Quyết Chiến, an agriculture engineer from Âu Lạc, recently devised a method for protecting crops from this disease. Moreover, his solution has been formulated to be effective without harming the carrier insect, the white back plant hopper.

Following years of research, Mr. Hứa realized that the more pesticides were used on crops, the more the insects became immune, and the more endangered the crops would become, therefore rendering the chemical approach futile in the long run.

While inspecting infected fields in the northern provinces of Hải Dương, Thái Bình, and Hưng Yên, Mr. Hứa subsequently discovered that by injecting plants with salicylic acid, a compound found in the pain reliever aspirin which helps them naturally resist disease, the plants were protected and the insects also not harmed.

His biological product, called Enxin 4.5, has in fact been shown to help prevent 11 harmful insect diseases in rice plants and vegetables and is already being sought after in Bulgaria following successful trials there. With Enxin 4.5 helping save the rice fields of many local farmers who would otherwise have to uproot entire paddies to be rid of disease, Âu Lạc's Science and Technology and Agriculture and Rural Development Ministries recently awarded Mr. Hứa more than US$200,000 to expand its application.

Our sincere accolades, Mr. Hứa Quyết Chiến, for your careful work in developing this safe and practical method to preserve valued food crops. May your endeavors inspire many more such benevolent products that protect the lives of other beings as well as our own health.
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/science-technology/4585/cure-found-for-black-streak-dwarf-disease-
by-a-vietnamese-scientist.html
http://ricehoppers.net/2010/06/new-rice-virus-disease-spreading-in-china/,
https://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=6154&id_region=30&id_category=&id_crop=7

Extra News
As business executive Grant Jones of New Zealand joins a 20-member Save Our Seas crew in Australia to raise awareness about the grave damage caused by plastic to marine life and ecosystems, he is also inspired to further the mission by founding a sister Save Our Seas organization in New Zealand.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/features/lifestyle/going-green/4675830/Sailing-to-save-the-seas-from-disaster

A feasibility study conducted for a new vertical axis turbine created by UK-based company Wind Power Ltd. finds that the innovative design of these floating devices has the potential to significantly reduce costs of offshore wind energy generation.
http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2029098/researchers-thumbs-vertical-axis-wind-offshore-turbines

In a recent meeting convened by the Union of Concerned Scientists, researchers affirm that along with rising global temperatures, climate change is also increasing the likelihood of more extreme storms in all seasons, including snowstorms.
http://www.france24.com/en/20110301-global-warming-means-more-snowstorms-scientists