The case against full global liberalisation
Michel Barnier, French agriculture minister, discusses regional self-sufficiency, tariffs in the food crisis and the future of the Common Agriculture Policy
The global food crisis
Resources
Tight supplies, changing weather patterns and rising demand in emerging economies have all contributed to rising food prices and raising concerns about food security
More in this section
India scraps rice import tax
India scraps its rice import duty as the government takes emergency measures to increase food stocks after the worst drought in more than 30 years
Bill Gates shifts focus to fighting hunger
Move to fund agriculture research
Philippines to buy more rice after floods
Self-sufficiency target likely to be pushed back
Kenyan food crisis prompts tough questions
Donors losing patience over lack of strategy
UN sees rise in land grab for food security
History of such moves ‘mostly unsuccessful’
Related content and features
Interactive
The global food crisis
Interactive feature: Food prices have jumped almost 60 per cent in the past year. View our interactive map to find out how rising food prices have hit trade balances and in which countries the inflationary impact has been the highest. Plus: “Why are food prices rising?” Our interactive feature explains the reasons for the ongoing food price inflation.
Video
Ethiopia stockpiles grain
Video: Javier Blas, FT commodities correspondent, reports from Addis Ababa on the impact of rocketing grain prices and speaks to Josette Sheeran of the World Food Program
Comment
Commodities breakfast club sees price rises
Crop disruption coupled with increasing demand are fuelling rises, writes Javier Blas
Feast and famine
Self-sufficiency is an appealing slogan in Britain, and reducing waste is common sense. But such prescriptions are no way to solve the global food crisis
Fix the land deals
If, geopolitically, food is the new oil, countries contemplating agricultural land deals – as investors or as hosts – should heed history’s lessons on natural resource exploitation
The world must learn to live and farm sustainably
Investment not charity is the only viable solution for a sustainable solution to food security. Japan will work with key partners to agree on principles and compile good practices, writes Taro Aso
Concerns mount over sharp rise in food costs
After a year worrying about the piggy bank, the world economy is slowly turning its attention back to the cupboard, writes Javier Blas in London
Food security is G8 chance of relevance
The leaders of richer countries must make sure that their nations eschew bilateral barter deals and end their shameful agricultural subsidies – especially those taking the form of in-kind food aid
Still sound reasons to cultivate agriculture
Crises aside, the main drivers of future food shortages remain
The world must feed its hungry
To encourage efficient global food production patterns, governments must adopt policies to ensure that food exporters and importers alike have well-functioning international markets
