Over the last three years, global food prices went up by more than 80 per cent. Picture: Layton Thompson/Tearfund
Tearfund is calling for greater investment in poor communities to help them cope with the global food crisis.
The call comes as next week world leaders meet in Rome to discuss food insecurity and rising prices which are affecting 850 million people worldwide.
With prices expected to remain high for at least 10 years, Tearfund is calling for investment in mitigation, preparedness and adaptation so that poor communities are more resilient and not pushed over the edge when there are price rises and disasters like food crises.
Tearfund is also urging more financial support for the World Food Programme and action to ensure trade agreements allow countries to promote food security.
Tearfund’s Jo Khinmaung said, ‘This is a long term issue, especially for those suffering from chronic food insecurity and it requires long term measures e.g. addressing the root causes of why people are vulnerable to food scarcity and price rises.’
Rioting
The scale of the crisis is highlighted by figures from the World Bank which estimates that an extra 100 million people are experiencing shortages because they cannot pay for the rising cost of food.
The bank says food prices have surged by 83 per cent over the last three years, with wheat prices rocketing by 180 per cent over the same period.
Tearfund staff and partners working in 25 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Latin America have noted food prices increasing and even doubling.
The detrimental impact on the rural and urban poor, who struggle to afford food when prices rise even a small amount, has led to riots in many places.
Experts predict food prices will continue to rise for the next decade. Picture: Layton Thompson/Tearfund
Factors behind the rises include:
• hikes in fuel prices
• use of land for biofuels
• failure of harvests in some countries
• increased demand for food in India, China and other countries
• market liberalisation policies
• investors gambling on food prices rising further.
Extreme weather
Tackling the root causes of food insecurity is a key part of Tearfund’s work, including climate change.
As well as running food programmes - for example through our church-linked partners in the Sahel region of West Africa - Tearfund is promoting sustainable farming methods, livelihood diversification and helping communities to be better prepared for extreme weather events and food insecurity.
But there is recognition that more concerted international effort is needed.
Tearfund is therefore urging governments, international donors and voluntary and charitable groups to invest in helping vulnerable areas cope.
Tearfund is also calling for a more joined-up approach to development, climate change and reducing the impact of disasters.