Food price rises: Biofuels only a small part of a bigger problem

5.25.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 22nd Apr 2008

The European Parliament today raised its concerns on rising global food prices in a debate with the Commissioner Louis Michel, EU Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid.

Graham Watson MEP highlighted the multiple and complex factors which have led to the current food crisis in many parts of the globe:

"The startling hikes in the cost of basic foods is pushing millions of people into poverty and starvation threatening to cancel out all progress toward the Millennium Development goals of halving world poverty by 2015."

"While it is true that bio-fuels increase demand for crops and displace food production the reasons for the recent food price rises are many and varied and so must be the international community's response."

"World population growth, poor growing conditions linked to climate change; loss of agricultural land for industrial use; commodities speculation; and changing eating habits all contribute to the current crisis."

"We cannot stand by and watch this disaster happen: In the short term that means giving more money to the World Food Programme to feed the poor. In the long term we need to think beyond food aid to prevent a downward spiral of trade restrictions, pressure on agricultural production, and higher prices for staples."