PREFACE
In 2008 food prices surged plunging millions back into hunger Simply cranking up the fertilizer and pesticide-led production
and triggering riots from Egypt to Haiti and Cameroon to Ban- methods of the 20th Century is unlikely to address the chal-
gladesh. Whereas fuel prices, which also surged, have fallen lenge. It will increasingly undermine the critical natural inputs
back sharply food prices remain problematic with wheat, corn and nature-based services for agriculture such as healthy and
and soya still higher than they were 12-18 months ago. productive soils; the water and nutrient recycling of forests to
pollinators such as bees and bats.
In order to understand the factors underpinning the food
crisis and to assess trends, UNEP commissioned a Rapid The report makes seven significant recommendations. These
Response team of internal and international experts. Their include real opportunities for boosting aquaculture and fish
conclusions are presented in this report launched during farming without intensifying damage to the marine environ-
UNEP’s 25th Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environ- ment alongside ones highlighting the opportunities for mini-
ment Forum. mizing and utilizing food wastes along the supply chain right
up to consumers.
Several factors have been at work including speculation in
commodity markets, droughts and low stocks. The contribu- In response to the food, fuel and financial crises of 2008 UNEP
tion of growing non-food crops such as biofuels is also dis- launched its Global Green New Deal and Green Economy ini-
cussed. Importantly the report also looks to the future. Was tiatives: food is very much part of the imperative for transfor-
2008 an aberration or a year foreshadowing major new trends mational economic, social and environmental change. We need
in food prices and if so, how should the international com- a green revolution but one with a capital G if we are to balance
munity respond? the need for food with the need to manage the ecosystems that
underpin sustainable agriculture in the first place.
The experts argue that, unless more sustainable and intel-
ligent management of production and consumption are un- This report will make an important contribution to the debate
dertaken food prices could indeed become more volatile and but equally it needs to trigger more rational, creative, innova-
expensive in a world of six billion rising to over nine billion by tive and courageous action and investment to steer 21st Cen-
2050 as a result of escalating environmental degradation. Up tury agriculture onto a sustainable Green Economy path.
to 25% of the world food production may become ‘lost’ dur-
ing this century as a result of climate change, water scarcity, Achim Steiner
invasive pests and land degradation. UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director, UNEP
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