Soaring food prices and the rural poor
The prices of basic food commodities have increased rapidly over the past three years. The threat to food security in developing countries increases in stride. 
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warns that "the rapidly escalating crisis of food availability around the world has reached emergency proportions." "Responding effectively to the impact of higher food prices must be a top priority for the global community, particularly when the impact is combined with the projected effects of climate change", says Lennart Båge, IFAD's President.
IFAD has gathered information from its partners and staff on the ground on the impact of rising food prices on poor rural people.
Read more | IFAD’s response to the food price increases

President's corner

Supporting smallholders is crucial to food security, Financial Times, 7 July 2008

Watch live interview with President Båge by BBC World News on soaring food prices on the occasion of G8 summit
Quicktime | RealPlayer | Windows Mediaplayer

Statement of Lennart Båge, President of IFAD to FAO High-level conference on World Food Security and the Challenges of Climate Change and Bio-energy

Only a few green shoots, Economist, 7-13 June, 2008

U.N. Food Meeting Ends With a Call for ‘Urgent’ Action, New York Times, 6 June 2008

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