It was the distinguished Danish physicist Niels Bohr who cautioned that “prediction is very difficult, especially about the future.”
Stalker ain’t making any predictions, but we can be sure that we are entering a period of high food and energy prices, after the washout summer and the ever rising oil prices due to geo-political uncertainty and speculator frenzy.
In the mushroom industry the wet summer will have its knock on effect with higher straw prices leading to higher compost prices. With sodden fields around the UK and Ireland getting the straw harvest in was more difficult. Also with prices for feed on the up farmers are holding on to more of their straw, thus squeezing supply even more.
With oil prices affecting everything from transportation to packaging, heating to cooling, we can surely expect costs of production to rise across the board. Are we heading for price spikes?
Experts warn that we can expect notable price rises in the food sector all round. The drought in the US is expected to have knock-on effects worldwide as well.
Making a prediction of a difficult autumn ahead does not feel one is sticking one’s neck out. All without factoring in the turbulence of the ongoing euro crisis, potential middle eastern upheaval and other unforeseeable events.
Roll on 2013, let’s hope it isn’t unlucky for some!
