Oxfam response to FAO Food Price Index

Oxfam’s food policy adviser Thierry Kesteloot said:

 “Despite the seemingly perfect combination of record harvests, supply exceeding demand and replenished world food stocks, food prices remain are as high as during the food crisis of 2008 hitting the poorest and most vulnerable people hardest.

“Governments put food price volatility on the top of the international agenda last year but failed to take the actions needed to tackle the root causes of the crisis. We need governments to put their fine words into action by scrapping damaging biofuels policies which are diverting food into fuel and curbing excessive speculation through regulation of commodities markets.

“Investment is also needed to help small farmers and producers who offer the greatest potential to tackle hunger and to scale up food reserves for developing countries so that they can cope with extremes in food prices."
 
Read the FAO release