World food crisis | France 24

Last modification: 17/07/08

- IMF - inflation

World food crisis

The end of the “cheap food era” has sparked protests and riots in poorer countries as politicians meeting at a major world food crisis summit in Rome try to find solutions for a problem that threatens to plunge millions into poverty.

Prices for basic foods like rice, wheat and soy have been rising around the world--in many cases doubling in two years. The soaring prices have provoked demonstrations and riots in countries such as Mexico, Pakistan, Egypt, Haiti, Senegal, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and the Philippines.

In all, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has identified 36 "crisis" countries, 21 of them in Africa. And IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn has warned the food crisis could damage world economies as much as the subprime crunch

On June 3, about 50 heads of state and government gathered for a major UN-sponsored summit in Rome to try to find solutions to boost agricultural production, improve food access and focus on long term world food security.

Click here for an in-depth analysis on the food crisis by FRANCE 24's international business correspondent Douglas Herbert. And for more on the recent wave of criticism against the FAO, click here.

FOOD CRISIS

As food summit opens, NGOs call for more cash

As the three-day UN summit of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) opens in Rome, agricultural and humanitarian organisations take stock of the food crisis, calling for more funds for poor countries. (Report: T. Grucza)

(1) comment
MALI - AGRICULTURE

Farming breakthroughs in Mali

Food self-sufficiency may not be an impossible dream for Mali. In this Saharan country, the government is determined to make the most of one of the world's most plentiful water resources, the Niger river. (Report: Francois Xavier Freland)
ETHIOPIA - FOOD CRISIS

Unaffordable grain staples deepen crisis

Ethiopia is among the hardest-hit nations in the world food crisis. The price of teff, a grain used for injera bread and a staple in the Ethiopian diet, has become unaffordable. F.Berruyer/N. Trabelsi report from the field.
HAITI

Haiti: A reporter's notebook

Haiti is facing multiple crises: food shortages, riots over rising prices and a government in chaos. S. Claudet and W. Bracciano report from Haiti as special correspondents for FRANCE 24. Read Claudet's Reporter's Notebook.

(1) comment

Related links

ARGENTINA - FARMER PROTESTS

Argentine Senate blocks controversial soybean tax

Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez-Kirchner saw her proposed tax on soybean exports defeated by one vote after weeks of farmers' protests over the disputed levy on the commodity.
AGRICULTURE - ECONOMY

Food prices: how do you cope?

An OECD-FAO report released ahead of the June world food summit forecasts that the price of agricultural commodities will be around 10% to 50% higher in the next decade than in the past ten years. How do food price hikes affect your budget?
EGYPT

Egypt rails against general strike call

Sky-rocketing food prices in Egypt since the start of the year have been matched in recent weeks by a rumbling wave of popular discontent and unprecedented strikes and demonstrations.
UNITED STATES

Ethanol: new gold for US corn farmers

American corn is being used to make ethanol, and while this industry is a boon for farmers in the United States, increased demand is causing grain prices to soar, with harsh consequence for poor countries. (Report: G.Meyer)
THE TALK OF PARIS

Jacques Diouf, FAO Director-General

As the dramatic rise in prices of staple foods sparks fears of famine throughout the world, we ask the Director-General of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation how to meet the needs of an ever-growing population.
FACE OFF

GM crops: the answer to food crisis?

The risk of famine in impoverished nations looms large. As world leaders scramble to find a solution, we ask whether genetically-modified crops be the answer, or if the risks outweigh the benefits.
FOOD CRISIS

White House releases $200 million to fight food crisis

The White House on Monday authorized the release of 200 million dollars in emergency food aid to help alleviate a growing global food crisis. Around 100 million people in developing countries are concerned. (Report: T. Grucza)
WORLD BANK - IMF

Call for urgent action against rising food prices

Development ministers and members of the IMF and World Bank's joint Development Committee called for immediate action against rising food and energy costs at a joint IMF World Bank meeting on Sunday. (Report : M. Henbest)

(2) comments
IVORY COAST

Food tax protests ease after gov't backs down

Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo cut taxes on food imports on Tuesday, bowing to pressure from housewives and youths who barricaded roads for two days of violent protests that reportedly left one man dead.
HAITI - FOOD RIOTS

Tension continues over food prices

After Haiti's prime minister was dismissed Saturday over the skyrocketing cost of food, a UN peacekeeper from Nigeria was shot to death in the capital, Port-au-Prince. The circumstances of the shooting remain unclear. (Report: M. Henbest)
FOOD - BIOFUEL

Nestle warns of possible food supplies threat

The increasing use of wheat, corn or water to make biofuels represents a risk for world food supplies warns Nestle, the world's biggest food and beverage company.
COMMODITIES

Wheat leads soaring global food prices

The price of top quality wheat rose 22% on US markets Monday - the highest one-day increase ever. The upsurge occurred after key producer Kazakhstan imposed export restrictions. Other food commodities are getting increasingly expensive.

(2) comments