'This paper examines the links between the risk of conflict and the production and trade of agricultural and marine commodities. It does so using a series of case studies: cocoa in Côte d’Ivoire, bananas and subsequently fisheries in Somalia, and cotton in Central Asia. Much like the traditional conflict resources (oil, diamonds, timber, minerals, etc.), there is strong evidence that fished and farmed commodities can also be (mis)used in such a way that their production and trade contribute t more...

The sharp increase in food prices over the past couple of
years has raised serious concerns about the food and nutrition
situation of people around the world, especially the poor
in developing countries; about inflation; and—in some
countries—about civil unrest. Although the relative influence
of various factors on global food price inflation remains
somewhat open to discussion and debate, the underlying
causes are increasingly well understood and noted at the
highest policymaking le more...

Mass protests about the cost of tortillas in Mexico City, in West Bengal, dispute over food rationing and riots over grain prices in many parts of Africa. Children march in public to call attention to child hunger in Yemen. This is the present scenario. High food price a harsh new reality.

The current crisis in food prices has riveted the attention of hundreds of millions of people, many of whom had not before realized the devastating extent of chronic hunger and the poverty, malnutrition, and poor health that are its inexorable companions.

'Low-income families may be pushed deeper into poverty if high prices for commodities such as wheat, rice and soybeans remain persistently high and countries fail to boost agricultural output and income to the poor, according to IDB data, which estimated the impact of the crisis in 19 countries in the region.'

'Climate change has a profound effect on food security in Africa, as increasing temperatures and shifting rain patterns reduce access to food across the continent.'

'This statement deals with the crisis of food prices and shortages, and also the issue of agriculture and climate change. The importance of food security and of expanding sustainable agriculture practices in its economic, social and environmental aspects is stressed.'

When farmers get access to credit and reliable storage facilities for their grain, it gives them the option to sell it when they can get the best price. The warehouse receipt system, introduced in some districts of Tanzania through an IFAD-supported programme, is now being introduced throughout the country by the government.

'Millions of vulnerable North Koreans are at risk of slipping towards precarious hunger levels,' said Jean-Pierre de Margerie, UN WFP Country Director for DPRK at a press conference today in Beijing. 'The last time hunger was so deep and so widespread in parts of the country was in the late 1990s.'

There is a general consensus that most of the poor in developing countries are net food buyers and food price increases are bad for the poor. This could be expected of urban poor, but it is also often attributed to the rural poor. Recent food price increases have increased the importance of this issue, and the possible policy responses to these price increases. This paper examines the characteristics of net food sellers and buyers in nine low-income countries. View the full document: http://www. more...