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Could Weather Indexed Insurance Replace Food Aid to Africa?

Jun 22nd, 2012 • by Sara Gustafson

The 2011 Horn of Africa food crisis brought the stark reality of weather-related shocks to the world’s attention, as the region’s worst drought in 60 years led to widespread crop failures and skyrocketing food prices and plunged millions of people into severe hunger and malnutrition. An early, effective response could have prevented the kind of widespread tragedy seen in the Horn of Africa in 2011, reducing mortality rates and malnutrition of young children, as well as helping families get back on their feet after the drought.

Food Security Should Top G20 Agenda

Jun 18th, 2012 • by Sara Gustafson

As the 2012 G20 Summit begins today in Los Cabos, Mexico, governments and institutions around the world are urging G20 leaders to focus on food security and nutrition. According to IFPRI's 2011 Global Hunger Index , hunger remains a devastating problem in many areas of the world: more than 50 countries are experiencing "extremely alarming," "alarming," or "serious" levels of hunger.

New Homepage Feature Tracks Mexico G20, Highlights Agriculture and Food Security

Jun 12th, 2012 • by Sara Gustafson

With the world facing continued population growth and the specter of climate change, food prices and food security are issues of growing global importance. The 2007-2008 and 2010-2011 food price crises have had lasting impacts on the face of the global food security environment; since 2001, food price volatility has been at its highest level in 50 years, and the uncertainty caused by this volatility is particularly detrimental for the world’s poor.

G20 Emphasizes Need to Increase Agricultural Productivity

Jun 12th, 2012 • by Sara Gustafson

Increasing global agricultural productivity faces many challenges, including a growing global population, increasing incomes (and thus increased demand for more labor- and resource-intensive foods such as meat and dairy), and climate change. Finding ways to sustainably increase agricultural production, particularly in developing countries, is crucial for food security.

World Food Prices Fall Most in Two Years

Jun 7th, 2012 • by Sara Gustafson

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 204 points in May, representing a 4 percent drop from April prices and the biggest percentage decrease since March 2010. At this level, the Food Price Index is 14 percent below its peak in February 2011.