Source:  Dani Friedland, MEATINGPLACE.COM,. 6/16/10

Food prices are expected to go up between now and 2019. Dietary changes and a growing population will drive the increase, according to a report released by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

The annual agricultural forecast says growing swine herds in Brazil and China will likely keep pork prices in check as other food prices increase over 1997-2006 levels.

On average, prices will remain below the levels they reached during the 2007 and 2008 price spike. Beef and pork prices did not go up during that period, and the forecast calls for these costs to increase by 10 percent to 20 percent by 2019 as compared to 2007-2008 levels.

Lower supplies and higher feed costs are behind the predicted increase in livestock prices, as well as increasing demand for meat and processed food in developing countries with rising income levels.

By 2050, the global population is expected to hit 9.1 billion, up from roughly 6.8 billion right now, and the FAO has said that food production will have to increase by 70 percent. Agricultural growth is on track to hit that level, according to this year's report.

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