The concept off international food trade has no future.
Globalisation, especially with food products which are weighty and
bulky will not be economically viable because of transport costs.

In a comparatively few years the cost of fuel for the long distance
transport of food will make imported food too expensive.
Even within countries such as Australia, and indeed inside Australian
states the cost of the 1500KM salad will force local food production.

The US$147 oil price last year was no isolated event but a precursor
for the economic recovery that is so eagerly awaited.
It now seems increasingly certain that peak oil occurred around
the middle of 2008.

A better aim for the Cairns Group would be to help various importing
countries to start broadening their crop types so as to provide their
populations with a balanced and adequate diet.

This is an excellent, informative article. I agree with the conclusions and also think that Bazz might well be right.

Divergence;
Yes I am afraid I am right, I wish it were not so.
Last night I heard a talk by Professor Kjell Aleklett the president of ASPO.
His group at Upsalla University have published a paper where they point
out major errors by the OECD's International Energy Authority in their
expected discovery of "Yet to be Discovered" oil fields.
Yet to be Discovered oil is one of the parameters used when stating
reserves.

His belief is that there is no way we can produce enough energy to
feed the world's present population, let alone the expected growth.
The problem is getting governments to recognise this, they just don't want to know.