The food price spike of 2007-2008 pushed the total number of hungry people to over one billion — 1/6th of the world's population. Since then, the volatility of food prices continues to impact hunger and poverty trends, especially in low-income food deficit countries.
Over 800 million — people worldwide are hungry
56% — price increase in wheat between 2021 and 2022
The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported a 45% increase in the world food price index during the 2008 food price crisis. Similar volatility was seen in 2011 and in 2022.
Food prices change in response to various factors including speculation, climatic shocks, energy prices, demand for agrofuels, and trade policy. Oil price increases affect the price of fertilizers as well as the cost of shipping and transportation. Demand for agrofuels such as corn ethanol increases demand for particular crops and changes crop distribution. Following the 2008 financial crisis, many investors shifted funds from mortgage markets to agriculture commodities creating a demand shock that increased commodity prices. Since, speculation on food products, including so-called future commodity markets where speculators bet on future prices, has remained a major factor exacerbating price volatility.
Many low-income countries, especially the so-called Least Developed Countries, are net food importers, which makes them highly vulnerable to price volatility on global food markets.
What we are doing about it
The Oakland Institute is committed to producing rigorous research and analysis on food and agriculture as it is only an in-depth objective understanding of the problems that can lead the right solutions to find their way into on-the-ground policy.
Continued Price Instability Questions Reliance on Global Food Markets
Frederic Mousseau, OI Policy Director, is the author of the Chapter III of the new World Disaster Report published by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). This new report warns that the world's poorest people are at serious risk from rocketing food prices and volatile global markets.
Achieving Regional Integration: The Key to Win the Fight Against Hunger in West Africa
Achieving Regional Integration: The Key to Win the Fight Against Hunger in West Africa assesses the relevance and potential of regional institutions and mechanisms in reducing hunger and undernutrition in West Africa - where chronic hunger remains pervasive - decades after the devastating droughts of the 1970s. The report analyzes the role regional institutions have in the fight against hunger and argues that, despite weaknesses, the existence...
Food & Energy Sovereignty Now: Brazilian Grassroots Position on Agroenergy
While Brazil's leadership on biofuels - particularly sugarcane-based ethanol - has been held as a global model for sustainable biomass production, a new report from the Oakland Institute and Terra de Direitos, Food & Energy Sovereignty Now: Brazilian Grassroots Position on Agroenergy , describes the opposition that biofuels face from the Brazilian social movements and civil society, as formulated at the First National Agroenergy Conference,...
The Status of International Food Aid Negotiations
In October 2005, the Oakland Institute published its report, Food Aid or Food Sovereignty? Ending World Hunger in our Time. Since then the issue of food aid has taken center stage in foreign aid, global hunger, and development discourse, sparking interest and debate amongst policy makers, media, and civil society internationally.
The 2008 Food Price Crisis: Rethinking Food Security Policies
The 2008 Food Price Crisis: Rethinking Food Security Policies, the latest in the G-24 Discussion Paper Series, is a timely report as member states of the United Nations come together 16-18 November, 2009 at the World Summit on Food Security in Rome, in an effort to find lasting solutions to world hunger. Intended to inform current policy discussions on how to address ever-growing food insecurity, the report contends that it is essential to...
38 Billion Dollar Question – Who is Driving the Destructive Industrial Agriculture Model?
Tuesday, September 20, 2022 Frederic Mousseau
Among the largest institutional investors in fossil fuels, Blackrock and Vanguard are also major shareholders of eight of the largest agrochemical companies.
The African Development Bank Must Work for Africans, Not Agrochemical Corporations
Thursday, September 15, 2022 Frederic Mousseau and Andy Currier
Instead of doubling down on failed models, now is the time to support solutions that African farmers are calling for across the continent.
Brazil: Time to End the Ravages of Industrial Agriculture in the Cerrado and the Amazon
Thursday, September 1, 2022 Frederic Mousseau with Ana Gaitan-Uribe
As the climate emergency gets more devastating everyday, we can't waste time waiting for action to end the ravages caused by industrial agriculture in Brazil.
Press Releases and Public Statements
Our Africa, Our Agriculture: African Farmers and Faith Leaders Demand an End to the Failed Green Revolution
New Report--Achieving Regional Integration: The Key to Success for the Fight Against Hunger in West Africa
Tackling the Global Food Crisis: A Mission Unaccomplished
Dan Rather Reports on AgriSol in Tanzania
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Black Horse, Black Earth, and BlackRock
Interview: U.S. Firms, Gov't Aggravate Global Food Crisis, Says U.S. Expert
Xinhua News Agency
African Farmers to UK: Stop Funding 'Climate-Stupid' Agriculture on Our Continent
The Canary
Shock doctrine en Ucrania
Political Economy of the Russia Ukraine Conflict
Blog: Our Take