Africa and Latin America should adopt their own versions of Europe's Common Agricultural Policy as a response to rising demand for food, according to Michel Barnier, France's farm minister.

While critics of the CAP prepare to use surging food prices and threats of shortages to seek freer trade in agriculture, Mr Barnier told the Financial Times that, on the contrary, the developing world should draw inspiration from Europe and form self-sufficient regional agricultural blocs funded with a redirection of development aid.