Britain faces an era of food shortages and the public may be forced to grow vegetables to survive, the government has suggested.

There was “rampant demand” for agricultural commodities from China, and rising corn prices may drive gains in other grains, according to a report yesterday from analysts at the bank. Surging crude-oil costs, low global food stockpiles and a weakening dollar may also bolster prices, the report said…Favorable weather conditions are necessary for almost all agricultural commodity markets in 2011 to rebuild inventory levels and prevent a rally on prices back to the highs of the 2007-08 commodity boom