Two major reasons for this are the conversion of prime agricultural land into residential and commercial development and rising land prices in areas surrounding this increasing encroachment.

FORBES: How a Nutrient Economy Can Save Our Farmers, Our Health and Our Environment

And one of the major functions of the mining industry is the conversion of resources into reserves.

FORBES: But Every Generation Does Indeed Exhaust Its Mineral Reserves

Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman and John Koskinen, chair of the President Council on Y2K Conversion, flanked by representatives from the food industry, said that grocery stores, convenience stores and major chain restaurants have completed their Y2K preparations and anticipate no problems for consumers.

CNN: U.S. officials predict no Y2K food shortages