Irish grass could be goldfields of the future

Governments globally are again fretting over food prices as poor weather afflicts crops in key grain regions.

Supply-driven shortages of product will lift food prices, but will also hurt the poorest hardest, given the high portion of low incomes that are devoted to eating. Hence, policymakers are on heightened alert.

For Ireland, these developments have mixed consequences. It is increasingly evident that climate change is making the production of food more challenging as populations grow and certain resources (such as water) become scarce.