Large increases in cereal prices in 2007-08 raised questions about the ability of world agriculture to produce the food needed by future generation. Predictions about impending world famine and continued increases in food prices are plentiful but almost certain to be wrong. Today, the world is awash in cereals and prices have decreased rapidly during the last three years. Enlightened policies, appropriate investments in research and technological change and better utilization of the currently underutilized productive capacity, are likely to result in continued increases in global food production sufficient to sustain a long-term trend of falling but more volatile real food prices.

Increasing food production is necessary but not sufficient for food security. To be food secure, households must have access to the quantity and kinds of food needed for a healthy and productive life. Very large stocks of food currently coexist with widespread food insecurity. Appropriate policies along with public and private investments are needed to enhance low-income people’s purchasing power or food production capacity. Considering both the supply and demand sides, this presentation will discuss what it will take to achieve food security for all in the foreseeable future.

Increasing food production is necessary but not sufficient for food security. To be food secure, households must have access to the quantity and kinds of food needed for a healthy and productive life. Very large stocks of food currently coexist with widespread food insecurity. Appropriate policies along with public and private investments are needed to enhance low-income people’s purchasing power or food production capacity. Considering both the supply and demand sides, this presentation will discuss what it will take to achieve food security for all in the foreseeable future.