World agriculture must double to ease imminent food crisis

The world faces a permanent food crisis and global instability unless countries double agricultural output to feed a surging population, according to a report drafted for ministers of the Group of Eight (G8) nations.

The report warns that immediate interventions are needed, and that global agricultural output must double by 2050 for the fast-growing world population to have enough food to eat and to deal with the effects of climate change.

The report said otherwise the food crisis of the past two years in much of the world will become structural in a few decades.

Further food crisis will have severe consequences on business relations, as well as social and international relations which will ultimately impact the security and stability of world politics, the report said.

The G8 meeting this month in Italy was prompted by last year's spike in prices of agricultural commodities, including wheat and rice. The sharp price increase triggered riots in more than 30 countries. 

Although agricultural commodities prices have since declined 40-50 percent, they are still well above their pre-crisis levels. Domestic prices in many developing countries remain close to last year's records and have rose further in some African countries. 

The report said price volatility remains a key element for the world's food security and there is a need for a fast increase of agricultural production in developing countries.

US agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack said the US planned to double financial aid for agricultural development in poor countries to US$1 billion next year.