World Food Prices Rise To Highest Level In 10 Years

By Stefan J. Bos. Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

(Worthy News) – World food prices have risen to their highest levels in a decade due to coronavirus pandemic measures, the United Nations’ food agency confirmed.

Prices rose for a second consecutive month in September to reach a 10-year peak, driven by gains for cereals and vegetable oils, said the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The price hikes have added to concerns about increased famine in impoverished nations. On a year-on-year basis, prices were up 32.8 percent in September, according to U.N. estimates.

The rising costs are a result of renewed demand in some countries and a backlog of low production in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, experts say.

Market and supply disruptions due to corona restrictions on movement, such as lockdowns, have reportedly created local shortages and higher prices.

“At the end of 2020, more than 88 million people were suffering from acute hunger due to conflict and instability, up 20 percent from a year earlier,” said António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations.

U.N.representatives also projected record global cereal production in 2021 but said this would be outpaced by forecast consumption.

“Among major cereals, wheat will be the focus in the coming weeks as demand needs to be tested against fast-rising prices,” added FAO Senior Economist Abdolreza Abbassian.

Agricultural commodity prices have also risen steeply in the past year, fueled by harvest setbacks and Chinese demand.

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