food shortage

Japan's domestic food supply faces plenty of threats, including nuclear radiation, a crippled distribution infrastructure and a shaky electric grid. But there's some good news for U.S. suppliers: A shortage of domestic beef and pork could increase the market for imported meat.

As the Russian wheat shortage sends food prices soaring, investors should note that such stories are going to become only more common as the developing world expands. For this and other reasons, the agriculture sector is worth considering.

A severe food shortage is on its way, according to famed investor Jim Rogers. Food inventories are the lowest in decades and "[m]any farmers cannot get loans to buy fertilizer now, even though we have big shortages developing," he said.

Prices for the big carbohydrate commodities -- wheat, corn, rice -- have all exploded. But one starch remains relatively cheap: the potato. That's why the U.N. and agriculture scientists are starting to push the potato as the new cheap starch for the masses. Happy International Year of the Potato,...