Japanese could face a future eating only rice and potatoes with no meat because of growing global food shortages and an alarmingly low rate of food self-sufficiency, a government report said Friday. About 60% of food consumed in Japan is imported from countries such as the United States, China, Australia and Canada. If the global food crisis intensifies and results in a lower availability of food imports, Japanese would see a dramatic shift in their diets, the Agriculture Ministry white paper warned. Compounding the problem, Japan's food self-sufficiency rate has now fallen to only 39%, the report said. The global food situation is going through "unprecedented changes,' the report said, urging the government to "establish concrete steps for food security.' The report said if all food imports were suddenly halted, a typical Japanese adult would still be able to meet minimum daily calorie requirements by eating rice, potatoes and fish. "But the dishes are far from what we eat today,' the report said. It urged the government to take steps to promote the consumption of domestically produced food, revitalize the farm industry, and push consumers to stop wasteful eating habits. The global food crisis is expected to continue because of population growth in developing countries, rising demand for biofuels, and declining farm crops because of poor weather, the report said. Prices for rice and other food staples have surged around the world, sparking violent protests and concerns of unrest amid profiteering and hoarding. Copyright 2008/9 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.