The Sustainability Learning Forum

Global Food Price Volatility and Spikes: An Overview of Costs, Causes, and Solutions

Prof. Joachim von Braun, Center for Development Research

Since the 2007-08 food crisis, many thoughtful analyses have addressed the causes and impacts of high and volatile international food prices and proposed solutions to the crisis. These studies have covered global as well as local food price dynamics and policy reactions. The food price problem is, however, far-reaching, and its impacts are wide and interrelated. more[...] login_required

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Food Security Remains a Top Priority for African Development

African Development Bank (AfDB)

Food security remains an important development issue for Africa, with many countries facing high food costs and periodic food shortages due to climate change, humanitarian crises, conflict, displaced populations, poor agricultural practices and a high dependency on imported food stuffs. For this reason, food security remains a top priority on the continent’s development agenda, as outlined in the quarterly Africa Food Security Brief published recently by the Chief Economist Complex of the African Development Bank. more[...] login_required

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Spotlight Food Crisis

Editorial Team

The recent drought in the United States and its impact on maize prices has focused the world's attention back onto global food prices. The latest data from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization shows that prices are in fact up a little after a period of decline. High food prices not only put a strain on the already tight food budgets of the world’s poor, but raise the price of helping them with food aid. more[...]

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World Food Programme: High Food Prices - 10 Questions Answered

The recent drought in the United States and its impact on maize prices has focused the world's attention back onto global food prices. The latest data from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization shows that prices are in fact up a little after a period of decline. High food prices not only put a strain on the already tight food budgets of the world’s poor, but raise the price of helping them with food aid. more[...] login_required

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Food Price Volatility a Growing Concern

World Bank

Given the exceptional drought in the US, current crop conditions in other grain producing regions, and the resulting increase in international food prices, the World Bank today expressed concern for the impacts of this volatility on the world's poor, who are highly vulnerable to increases in food prices. more[...] login_required

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Dispatches from the Food Movement

Regional food systems that are ecologically sound, economically viable, and that encourage healthy communities were at the epicenter of conversation at the University of Vermont’s first-ever food systems summit with a public conference titled “The Necessary (r)Evolution for Sustainable Food Systems Amplified,” held on June 28, 2012, to a packed house and a digital audience from around the country. more[...] login_required

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Diets must become sustainable say FAO

Food and Agriculture Organization

Immediate action to promote sustainable diets and food biodiversity so as to improve the health of humans and of the planet is urged in a book just published by FAO and Bioversity International. more[...] login_required

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Food Price Volatility a Growing Concern

Given the exceptional drought in the US, current crop conditions in other grain producing regions, and the resulting increase in international food prices, the World Bank expressed concern for the impacts of this volatility on the world's poor, who are highly vulnerable to increases in food prices. more[...] login_required

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Partnerships for More High-Quality Food

Editorial Team

Safeguarding food supplies for a constantly growing world population will be among the most pressing problems of the future. Bayer is providing an innovative solution with the program “food chain partnership.” This business model supports the United Nations Millennium Development Goal of fighting poverty and hunger throughout the world and contributes to sustainable development. more[...]

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Partnerships for More High-Quality Food

Dr. Wolfgang Große-Entrup, Bayer Group

Safeguarding food supplies for a constantly growing world population will be among the most pressing problems of the future. Bayer is providing an innovative solution with the program “food chain partnership.” This business model supports the United Nations Millennium Development Goal of fighting poverty and hunger throughout the world and contributes to sustainable development. more[...]

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Securing Yields through Sustainability

Editorial Team

How do we respond to the world’s increasing demand for food while protecting the environment and biodiversity for future generations? BASF’s sustainable agricultural work helps to address these global challenges. Our business is well-positioned to help customers become more sustainable. We provide farmers with reliable and innovative products, but also support them with our know-how. more[...]

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Securing Yields through Sustainability

Rainer von Mielecki, BASF
BASF SE

How do we respond to the world’s increasing demand for food while protecting the environment and biodiversity for future generations? BASF’s sustainable agricultural work helps to address these global challenges. Our business is well-positioned to help customers become more sustainable. We provide farmers with reliable and innovative products, but also support them with our know-how. more[...]

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Partnerships for More High-Quality Food

Dr. Wolfgang Große-Entrup, Bayer Group
Bayer Group

Safeguarding food supplies for a constantly growing world population will be among the most pressing problems of the future. Bayer is providing an innovative solution with the program “food chain partnership.” This business model supports the United Nations Millennium Development Goal of fighting poverty and hunger throughout the world and contributes to sustainable development. more[...] login_required

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The Global Food System, Environmental Protection, and Human Rights

Prof. Carmen G. Gonzalez, Seattle University School of Law

The global food system is exceeding ecological limits while failing to meet the nutritional needs of a large segment of the world’s population. While law could play an important role in facilitating the transition to a more just and ecologically sustainable food system, the current legal framework fails to regulate food and agriculture in an integrated manner. more[...] login_required

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What's On Your Plate?

An illustrated video on the challenges of the dominant food system, and alternatives for creating healthy people and a healthy planet. Commissioned by the University of Vermont. more[...]

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