Tag: food prices

The European Commission’s proposal to amend the Renewable Energy Directive should be welcomed as a first step towards the elimination of the adverse impact of biofuels. But more incisive action is badly needed in the future, writes Enrico Partiti.

Coordinated international action can stop another food crisis like the one in 2007-2008, argue José Graziano da Silva, Kanayo F. Nwanze and Ertharin Cousin of the United Nations.

Drought-stricken crops and record-high grain prices have strengthened critics of the European Union biofuel industry, adding fears of a food crisis to their claims that it does not ultimately reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Climate change cut global wheat and corn output by more than 3% over the past three decades compared to growth projections without a rise in temperatures, a study found on Friday. The impacts translated into up to 20% higher average commodity prices, before accounting for other factors, according to the paper published in the journal Science.

Libya's humanitarian crisis is starting to affect vulnerable people across the world, Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva said yesterday (28 February), warning that the effects of rising oil prices were already being felt in the food sector and threatening to push millions into hunger.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy called in a speech laying out his G20 agenda on Monday (24 January) for new rules to curb commodity price volatility, warning that the world risks food riots and weaker growth if leaders fail to act.

France is pushing for an enlarged role for the United Nations' food and agriculture agency (FAO) to help tackle market tensions that are fuelling high commodity prices and social unrest for the second time in three years. The French authorities have been promoting greater regulation of commodity markets as a cornerstone of France's presidency of the G20 in 2011.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) last week warned that food prices for basic commodities hit record highs last month, fuelling fears of inflation, protectionism, unrest and reduced demand from emerging economies.