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Which Factors Led to the Rice Shortage of 2008?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Several factors contributed to the rice shortage of 2008, ranging from decreased rice exports from many Asian nations to extended drought in Australia. All of these factors played out within the larger framework of rising food prices in 2007 and 2008, and the impact of the shortage was felt in various ways around the world.

One of the leading causes of the rice shortage was climate conditions. In Australia, a major producer of rice, an extended drought led to a drastically reduced harvest. In many parts of Asia, flooding destroyed rice fields before the grain could be harvested, reducing the harvest even more. These conditions affected the availability of many specialty types of rice, especially long grain varieties, which tend to be extremely popular.

A rice plant.
A rice plant.

Land conversion also played a role in the rice shortage. In many Asian nations, farms are being displaced by growing cities, thanks to an ever-expanding human population. Farmers are also encouraged to plant highly profitable crops for export, like corn and soy, reducing the amount of space available to cultivate rice. The decision to cultivate crops for conversion into fuel and animal fodder also played a role.

Cooked jasmine rice in a bowl with chopsticks.
Cooked jasmine rice in a bowl with chopsticks.

In Asian nations, rice is a major staple, and increasing demand for rice began to put serious pressure on national agriculture in 2007 in many Asian countries. As rice stocks began to dwindle, some countries like Thailand restricted exports, to ensure that there would be enough rice to feed the citizens, and rice prices climbed in these nations in response to the perceived shortage. As a result, some people were priced out of rice entirely, a major problem in areas where rice can play a huge role in the diet.

A field of rice.
A field of rice.

Outside of Asia, people began to feel the rice shortage in 2008 in the form of reduced availability of certain specialty Asian rice varieties, like basmati. In fact, there was no shortage of short grain rice varieties, thanks to large plantations in California and the American South, but many consumers prefer long grain rice, for cultural, ethnic, or culinary reasons. As a result, prices for long grain rice climbed in response to consumer demand.

Uncooked rice.
Uncooked rice.

Although restricted supplies of certain rice varieties and generally elevated rice prices were certainly a cause for concern, the larger issue was the overall climb in food prices. 2007 and 2008 saw a dramatic increase in global food prices across the board, not just a rice shortage, increasing food insecurity for people all over the world. Food shortages also tend to lead to political and social instability, creating a potential for food riots and other civil unrest in nations with a large impoverished population, like Haiti.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Sporkasia

The sad thing about food shortages and people starving is that there is more than enough food in the world to feed everyone, but the problem is getting the food to the people who need it. Regardless of what your parents told you when you were a child, eating all of the food on your plate doesn't make a difference one way or the other to starving children in some far away country.

mobilian33

If we don't stop making fuel for cars out of food like corn we are going to have even more shortages of food. We will be talking about the corn shortage next.

Drentel

I remember the rice shortage of 2008 and 2009. For most people in developed countries the shortage was just an inconvenience. Countries really should do a better job of being self sufficient so they are not depending on other countries to feed them.

It's more than an inconvenience if you are depending on a crop for survival and you learn that a drought in another country means you won't have enough to eat.

We are fortunate that in the U.S. we produce enough food to feed ourselves. It's a shame that farmers don't get the credit and money they deserve for what they do. Where would any of us be without them?

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    • A rice plant.
      A rice plant.
    • Cooked jasmine rice in a bowl with chopsticks.
      Cooked jasmine rice in a bowl with chopsticks.
    • A field of rice.
      A field of rice.
    • Uncooked rice.
      By: airborne77
      Uncooked rice.
    • Red rice.
      By: IngridHS
      Red rice.
    • Different types of rice.
      By: Elena Schweitzer
      Different types of rice.
    • Demand for rice in some impoverished nations contributed to the shortage.
      By: TheFinalMiracle
      Demand for rice in some impoverished nations contributed to the shortage.