| Prices to remain high and volatile, finds UN, IFAD and WFP report |
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A “more sustainable management of our natural resources, forests and fisheries are critical for the food security of many of the poorest members of society," the heads of the three UN agencies stressed. In addition, governments “must ensure that a transparent and predictable regulatory environment is in place, one that promotes private investment and increases farm productivity”, the three heads added. The report also finds that high and volatile prices are net contributors to the global food insecurity, together with the rapidly growing economies, population growth and increasing demand for biofuels. It stresses the need for investment in key agricultural sectors but in full respect of the rights of land users, natural resources, local communities, as well as environmental sustainability. The link between volatile prices and climate change, biofuels and commodity trading is also revealed by the 2011 Global Hunger Index report entitled The Challenge of Hunger: Taming Price Spikes and Excessive Food Price Volatility. “To tackle the main drivers of excessive volatility, policymakers need to curtail biofuels subsidies and mandates, discourage the use of food crops in biofuels production, regulate financial activity in food markets, and reduce the incentives for potential excessive speculation in food commodities,” said Maximo Torero, co-author of the report. The report is at its 6th edition and has been released ahead of the World Food Day (16 October) by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Welthungerhilfe, and Concern Worldwide. Sources:
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High and volatile food prices are likely to persist in the future with poor farmers, consumers and countries remaining vulnerable to poverty and food insecurity, according to a report released by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) together with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP). Named ‘The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2011’, the report warns that import dependent small countries are particularly at risk as they still face severe problems caused by the latest economic crises.