Food prices

On 16 October 2008, CTA in partnership with the European Commission-DG Development and EuropeAid, the EU Presidency, the ACP Secretariat, Euforic and Concord (European platform of development NGOs) organized the seventh Brussels Development Briefing, part of a series of discussion meetings on ACP-EU development issues. This briefing focused on the issue: ‘Rising food prices: an opportunity for change?’

Programme and objectives of the Briefing

Isolina Boto, CTA [presentation]

Welcome remarks by organizers

Hansjörg Neun, CTA
Sir John Kaputin, ACP Secretariat
Lluis Riera Figueras, DG Development, European Commission
Jacques Diouf, Director-General, FAO (videomessage from Rome at the occasion of the World Food Day)

Panel 1: Rising food prices: trends and impacts
This panel will review the causes, trends and determinants of the food prices crisis from a development perspective, with special focus on ACP countries and on the rural households and small-scale farmers. It will also touch upon the immediate actions which have been taken to respond to urgent needs.

What caused the food price spike?
Steve Wiggins, ODI [executive summary - presentation]
Food security strategies: a leading role for farmers organisations
Renwick Rose, WINFA, [executive summary]
A civil society perspective on the food prices crisis
Stineke Oenema, Concord [executive summary - presentation]

Discussant: H.E. Mr Kadré Désiré Ouedraogo, Ambassador of Burkina Faso and Chair of the ACP Committee of Ambassadors

Panel 2: Food for all: achieving a long term resiliency
This panel will discuss the best policy options and actions at medium and long term that the international community, regional organisations and governments have to take as to ensure food security for the most vulnerable households and market stability for ACP economies.

The EU response to the food crisis
Philip Mikos, EC, DG Development [presentation]
Food price crises: is regional trade the answer?
Cris Muyunda, COMESA [executive summary - presentation]
The role the private sector can play in responding to the food crisis impact in the poorest countries
Dr Mike Bushell, Syngenta [executive summary - presentation]