Food Price Volatility and Food Security
Symposium, Bern, Switzerland, 11 October 2011
In the past decade food prices have risen strongly. Moreover, in the past years food prices have fluctuated more than in the whole period since the oil crisis of the1970s. Nowadays, in addition to fundamental factors, such as a growing world population and an increasing purchasing power, other factors affect price formation, such as climate change, a strong demand for biofuels, low global stock levels as well as fluctuations in oil prices and exchange rates. Besides producers, especially poor people in developing countries, who spend a very high share of their income on food, are severely affected by volatile prices.
There is a growing consensus in the international debate about price volatility as regards the need for coordinated actions at national, regional, and international levels. Efficient strategies and measures have to be developed and implemented in order to reduce the negative impact of price volatility. Experts call for the development of more efficient local, national and international markets and of social safety nets. Above all, they plead for more investment in a sustainable and productive agriculture and food sector.
In view of the World Food Day 2011, the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) want to discuss in a symposium organised under the patronage of the Swiss FAO Committee the worldwide problem of increasing and more volatile food prices and its impact on the global food security. Representatives from international organisations, the private sector, academia, civil society and the Swiss administration will make presentations and discuss the causes and possible ways to respond. The audience is invited to participate actively in the discussion.
Themes of past events
Promoting Innovation: How can Switzerland strengthen its contribution to rural development in the international context?
Bern, Switzerland, 17 November 2010
The Challenge of Climate change for Agriculture and Food
Bern, Switzerland, 16 April 2010
Large-scale Investment in Agriculture and Land – Opportunity and Risk for Food Security
Bern, Switzerland, 15 October 2009
