"We have a particular problem with rising commodity prices," he said. "Combined with the weakness of the dollar... we're not going to rectify easily or quickly."

The International Food Policy Research Institute projects that by 2020, nations' biofuel projects could raise the cost of corn by 26 percent and oilseeds by 18 percent. Prices could be exacerbated if governments take no major steps to deal with climate change, the institute said, citing decreased crop yield in drought-stricken Australia.

Scientists' efforts to develop biofuels using grasses and agricultural waste products could help in the future, if those sources don't compete with land, water, and food for feed, the institute reports.

How world leaders choose to deal with those issues will affect how much Utahns continue to feel the pinch of rising food costs in coming years.

"President Bush needs to stop the wars and put his attention right here," Hildegarde's Pantry supervisor Lydia Herrera said as workers scurried to put food out for the waiting crowd. "We need to focus on the people right now. People are going to die hungry if this continues."

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