LEI, 2008
Why are current world food prices so high?
A complex of factors underlies the current, high food prices. The effects of speculation around food crops should not be overestimated nor should the influence of biofuels on world food prices. In time, food prices will again decline. These are some of the recent and most important conclusions in an economic analysis of the development in world food prices from experts at Wageningen University and Research Centre in the Netherlands. LEI Wageningen UR asked a number of experts to contribute to the national and international discussion by offering analysis from different perspectives. This document is a first memorandum on the analysis of the recent price increases.