Riots in Egypt are About Food

A lot of mainstream media is focusing on the riots in Egypt being caused by people angry about lack of democratic freedoms and free speech.  From Granite Springs.com here’s news about how food is a deep underlying cause.

I have been following the Egyptian economy since the 1970’s.  There have been two vexing problems for the Government: 1) A rising population now approaching 80 million people; and, 2) Declining per capita domestic food production.  For years the Government has provided subsidies to its people to keep peace.  Egyptians have traditionally not been violent compared to other countries in the region.

There were food riots in 1977 and again in 2008.  Fortunately for the Government, the crises didn’t last long, as the food issue was more easily dealt with.  Today, the Government is faced with a more complicated world environment.

According to Egypt’s Agriculture Ministry, Egypt imports about 40% of its total foodstuffs, including 60% of its wheat, the country’s staple food.  This is humiliating for the Egyptian people who know that for millennia their country was one of the world’s breadbaskets.  More…

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