Now we're getting somewhere...

In the frantic push to find something other than biofuels to blame for food shortages, I think we have winner: golf.

Reuters reports that surging Asian economies, rising living standards, and a younger generation that prefers less labor-intensive resort and golf course employment have hurt Asian rice production.

The Filipino government has ordered a halt to the conversion of farmland — which developers recently challenged — and Beijing added golf courses to its list of banned land usages. [More]

Interestingly, the golf industry is not thriving here in the land of exorbitant greens fees. Along with most leisure pursuits requiring exertion, numbers are down. Still, since I don't play, I can happily blame those guys for the food crisis.