Food prices may rise by up to 20%, warns UN (John Vidal)

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Prices of wheat, maize and many other foods traded internationally have risen by up to 40% in just a few months. Photograph: Simon Maina/AFP/Getty Images

Poor harvests put global food reserves under pressure, with African and Asian countries likely to be worst hit

Nov. 17, 2010 (The Guardian) -- The UN today warned that food prices could rise 10 percent-20 percent next year after poor harvests and an expected rundown of global reserves. More than 70 African and Asian countries will be the worst hit, said the Food and Agricultural Organisation in its monthly report.

In its gloomiest forecast since the 2007/08 food crisis, which saw food riots in more than 25 countries and 100 million extra hungry people, the report's authors urged states to prepare for hardship.

"Countries must remain vigilant against supply shocks," the report warned. "Consumers may have little choice but to pay higher prices for their food. The size of next year's harvest becomes increasingly critical. For stocks to be replenished and prices to return to more normal levels, large production expansions are needed in 2011."