The state of food insecurity in the world

This FAO report published in late 2008 focuses on the consequences of food price rises over the previous months. According to the report, even before the peak in food price in mid-2008, the number of undernourished people had risen steeply to 923 million in 2007 (an increase of 75 million compared with 2003-2005). The report ends with what these high prices mean in terms of policies. Higher incomes for "smallholders could be the basis for much greater economic and rural development". Moreover, the international community must coordinate its actions on two vital fronts: support measures for the farming sector and social measures for food-vulnerable people (safety nets and social protection).