October 16, 2011 Price swings, upswings in particular, represent
a major threat to food security in developing countries.
Hardest-hit are the poor. According to the World Bank, in
2010-2011 rising food costs pushed nearly 70 million people into
extreme poverty. “Food Prices – From Crisis To Stability” has
been chosen as this year’s World Food Day theme to shed some
light on this trend and what can be done to mitigate its impact
on the most vulnerable. On World Food Day 2011, let us look
seriously at what causes swings in food prices, and do what
needs to be done to reduce their impact on the weakest members
of global society. Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations (FAO) Achieving food security for all is at the
heart of FAO’s efforts – to make sure people have regular access
to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.FAO’s
mandate is to raise levels of nutrition, improve agricultural
productivity, better the lives of rural populations and
contribute to the growth of the world e