A Note on Rising Food Prices

The rapid rise in food prices has been a burden on the poor in developing countries, who spend roughly half of their household incomes on food. This paper examines the factors behind the rapid increase in internationally traded food prices since 2002 and estimates the contribution of various factors such as the increased production of biofuels from food grains and oilseeds, the weak dollar, and the increase in food production costs due to higher energy prices. It concludes that the most important factor was the large increase in biofuels production in the U.S. and the EU. Without these increases, global wheat and maize stocks would not have declined appreciably, oilseed prices would not have tripled, and price increases due to other factors, such as droughts, would have been more moderate. Recent export bans and speculative activities would probably not have occurred because they were largely responses to rising prices. While it is difficult to compare the results of this study with those of other studies due to differences in methodologies, time periods and prices considered, many other studies have also recognized biofuels production as a major driver of food prices. The contribution of biofuels to the rise in food prices raises an important policy issue, since much of the increase was due to EU and U.S. government policies that provided incentives to biofuels production, and biofuels policies which subsidize production need to be reconsidered in light of their impact on food prices.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Mitchell, Donald
Language:English
Published: World Bank, Washington, DC 2008-07
Subjects:AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS, AGRICULTURAL MARKETS, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, AGRICULTURE, ANIMAL FATS, BANANAS, BEETS, BIODIESEL, BIOFUEL, BIOFUEL PRODUCTION, BIOFUEL USE, BIOFUELS, BIOFUELS PRODUCTION, BY-PRODUCTS, CEREAL PRICES, CEREALS, CLIMATIC CONDITIONS, COMMODITY, COMMODITY PRICE, COMMODITY PRICES, CONSUMER PRICES, CONSUMERS, CORN, CORN PRICES, COST INCREASES, COTTONSEED, CROP, CROP PRICES, CROP PRODUCTION, CROP PROSPECTS, DEBT, DEMAND FOR FOOD, DEMAND GROWTH, ELASTICITY, ENERGY PRICES, ETHANOL, ETHANOL PRODUCTION, EXCHANGE RATES, EXCISE TAXES, FAO, FARM, FERTILIZER, FINANCIAL CRISIS, FLAX, FOOD EXPORTS, FOOD GRAINS, FOOD POLICY, FOOD POLICY RESEARCH, FOOD PRICES, FOOD PRODUCTION, FOOD PRODUCTS, FOOD RIOTS, FOODS, FORECASTS, FOSSIL FUELS, GRAIN, GRAIN CONSUMPTION, GRAIN PRICES, GRAIN PRODUCTION, HOUSEHOLD INCOMES, IFPRI, INFLATION, INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE, MAIZE, MAIZE PRODUCTION, MARKET DEVELOPMENTS, MARKET PRICES, MEAL, MEATS, OILSEED PRICES, OILSEEDS, PALM OIL, PALM OIL PRICES, POULTRY, POULTRY INDUSTRY, PRICE INCREASE, PRICE INCREASES, PRICE INDEX, PRICE INFLATION, PRODUCE, PRODUCTION COSTS, PROTEIN, RAPESEED, RENEWABLE FUELS, RETAIL, RETAIL PRICES, RICE, RICE PRICE, RICE PRICES, RICE PRODUCTION, SOYBEAN, SOYBEAN OIL, SOYBEAN PRICES, SOYBEANS, STARCH, STOCKS, SUBSTITUTES, SUBSTITUTION, SUGAR, SUGAR CANE, SUGAR CROPS, SUNFLOWER, SUNFLOWER OIL, TOTAL COSTS, VEGETABLE OIL, VEGETABLE OILS, WHEAT, WHEAT FUTURES, WHEAT PRICES, WORLD MARKET, WORLD MARKETS, YIELDS,
Online Access:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2008/07/9724305/note-rising-food-prices
https://hdl.handle.net/10986/6820
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spelling dig-okr-1098668202024-08-08T16:38:15Z A Note on Rising Food Prices Mitchell, Donald AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS AGRICULTURAL MARKETS AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AGRICULTURE ANIMAL FATS BANANAS BEETS BIODIESEL BIOFUEL BIOFUEL PRODUCTION BIOFUEL USE BIOFUELS BIOFUELS PRODUCTION BY-PRODUCTS CEREAL PRICES CEREALS CLIMATIC CONDITIONS COMMODITY COMMODITY PRICE COMMODITY PRICES CONSUMER PRICES CONSUMERS CORN CORN PRICES COST INCREASES COTTONSEED CROP CROP PRICES CROP PRODUCTION CROP PROSPECTS DEBT DEMAND FOR FOOD DEMAND GROWTH ELASTICITY ENERGY PRICES ETHANOL ETHANOL PRODUCTION EXCHANGE RATES EXCISE TAXES FAO FARM FERTILIZER FINANCIAL CRISIS FLAX FOOD EXPORTS FOOD GRAINS FOOD POLICY FOOD POLICY RESEARCH FOOD PRICES FOOD PRODUCTION FOOD PRODUCTS FOOD RIOTS FOODS FORECASTS FOSSIL FUELS GRAIN GRAIN CONSUMPTION GRAIN PRICES GRAIN PRODUCTION HOUSEHOLD INCOMES IFPRI INFLATION INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE MAIZE MAIZE PRODUCTION MARKET DEVELOPMENTS MARKET PRICES MEAL MEATS OILSEED PRICES OILSEEDS PALM OIL PALM OIL PRICES POULTRY POULTRY INDUSTRY PRICE INCREASE PRICE INCREASES PRICE INDEX PRICE INFLATION PRODUCE PRODUCTION COSTS PROTEIN RAPESEED RENEWABLE FUELS RETAIL RETAIL PRICES RICE RICE PRICE RICE PRICES RICE PRODUCTION SOYBEAN SOYBEAN OIL SOYBEAN PRICES SOYBEANS STARCH STOCKS SUBSTITUTES SUBSTITUTION SUGAR SUGAR CANE SUGAR CROPS SUNFLOWER SUNFLOWER OIL TOTAL COSTS VEGETABLE OIL VEGETABLE OILS WHEAT WHEAT FUTURES WHEAT PRICES WORLD MARKET WORLD MARKETS YIELDS The rapid rise in food prices has been a burden on the poor in developing countries, who spend roughly half of their household incomes on food. This paper examines the factors behind the rapid increase in internationally traded food prices since 2002 and estimates the contribution of various factors such as the increased production of biofuels from food grains and oilseeds, the weak dollar, and the increase in food production costs due to higher energy prices. It concludes that the most important factor was the large increase in biofuels production in the U.S. and the EU. Without these increases, global wheat and maize stocks would not have declined appreciably, oilseed prices would not have tripled, and price increases due to other factors, such as droughts, would have been more moderate. Recent export bans and speculative activities would probably not have occurred because they were largely responses to rising prices. While it is difficult to compare the results of this study with those of other studies due to differences in methodologies, time periods and prices considered, many other studies have also recognized biofuels production as a major driver of food prices. The contribution of biofuels to the rise in food prices raises an important policy issue, since much of the increase was due to EU and U.S. government policies that provided incentives to biofuels production, and biofuels policies which subsidize production need to be reconsidered in light of their impact on food prices. 2012-05-31T21:59:59Z 2012-05-31T21:59:59Z 2008-07 http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2008/07/9724305/note-rising-food-prices https://hdl.handle.net/10986/6820 English Policy Research Working Paper No. 4682 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank application/pdf text/plain World Bank, Washington, DC
institution Banco Mundial
collection DSpace
country Estados Unidos
countrycode US
component Bibliográfico
access En linea
databasecode dig-okr
tag biblioteca
region America del Norte
libraryname Biblioteca del Banco Mundial
language English
topic AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS
AGRICULTURAL MARKETS
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
AGRICULTURE
ANIMAL FATS
BANANAS
BEETS
BIODIESEL
BIOFUEL
BIOFUEL PRODUCTION
BIOFUEL USE
BIOFUELS
BIOFUELS PRODUCTION
BY-PRODUCTS
CEREAL PRICES
CEREALS
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
COMMODITY
COMMODITY PRICE
COMMODITY PRICES
CONSUMER PRICES
CONSUMERS
CORN
CORN PRICES
COST INCREASES
COTTONSEED
CROP
CROP PRICES
CROP PRODUCTION
CROP PROSPECTS
DEBT
DEMAND FOR FOOD
DEMAND GROWTH
ELASTICITY
ENERGY PRICES
ETHANOL
ETHANOL PRODUCTION
EXCHANGE RATES
EXCISE TAXES
FAO
FARM
FERTILIZER
FINANCIAL CRISIS
FLAX
FOOD EXPORTS
FOOD GRAINS
FOOD POLICY
FOOD POLICY RESEARCH
FOOD PRICES
FOOD PRODUCTION
FOOD PRODUCTS
FOOD RIOTS
FOODS
FORECASTS
FOSSIL FUELS
GRAIN
GRAIN CONSUMPTION
GRAIN PRICES
GRAIN PRODUCTION
HOUSEHOLD INCOMES
IFPRI
INFLATION
INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
MAIZE
MAIZE PRODUCTION
MARKET DEVELOPMENTS
MARKET PRICES
MEAL
MEATS
OILSEED PRICES
OILSEEDS
PALM OIL
PALM OIL PRICES
POULTRY
POULTRY INDUSTRY
PRICE INCREASE
PRICE INCREASES
PRICE INDEX
PRICE INFLATION
PRODUCE
PRODUCTION COSTS
PROTEIN
RAPESEED
RENEWABLE FUELS
RETAIL
RETAIL PRICES
RICE
RICE PRICE
RICE PRICES
RICE PRODUCTION
SOYBEAN
SOYBEAN OIL
SOYBEAN PRICES
SOYBEANS
STARCH
STOCKS
SUBSTITUTES
SUBSTITUTION
SUGAR
SUGAR CANE
SUGAR CROPS
SUNFLOWER
SUNFLOWER OIL
TOTAL COSTS
VEGETABLE OIL
VEGETABLE OILS
WHEAT
WHEAT FUTURES
WHEAT PRICES
WORLD MARKET
WORLD MARKETS
YIELDS
AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS
AGRICULTURAL MARKETS
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
AGRICULTURE
ANIMAL FATS
BANANAS
BEETS
BIODIESEL
BIOFUEL
BIOFUEL PRODUCTION
BIOFUEL USE
BIOFUELS
BIOFUELS PRODUCTION
BY-PRODUCTS
CEREAL PRICES
CEREALS
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
COMMODITY
COMMODITY PRICE
COMMODITY PRICES
CONSUMER PRICES
CONSUMERS
CORN
CORN PRICES
COST INCREASES
COTTONSEED
CROP
CROP PRICES
CROP PRODUCTION
CROP PROSPECTS
DEBT
DEMAND FOR FOOD
DEMAND GROWTH
ELASTICITY
ENERGY PRICES
ETHANOL
ETHANOL PRODUCTION
EXCHANGE RATES
EXCISE TAXES
FAO
FARM
FERTILIZER
FINANCIAL CRISIS
FLAX
FOOD EXPORTS
FOOD GRAINS
FOOD POLICY
FOOD POLICY RESEARCH
FOOD PRICES
FOOD PRODUCTION
FOOD PRODUCTS
FOOD RIOTS
FOODS
FORECASTS
FOSSIL FUELS
GRAIN
GRAIN CONSUMPTION
GRAIN PRICES
GRAIN PRODUCTION
HOUSEHOLD INCOMES
IFPRI
INFLATION
INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
MAIZE
MAIZE PRODUCTION
MARKET DEVELOPMENTS
MARKET PRICES
MEAL
MEATS
OILSEED PRICES
OILSEEDS
PALM OIL
PALM OIL PRICES
POULTRY
POULTRY INDUSTRY
PRICE INCREASE
PRICE INCREASES
PRICE INDEX
PRICE INFLATION
PRODUCE
PRODUCTION COSTS
PROTEIN
RAPESEED
RENEWABLE FUELS
RETAIL
RETAIL PRICES
RICE
RICE PRICE
RICE PRICES
RICE PRODUCTION
SOYBEAN
SOYBEAN OIL
SOYBEAN PRICES
SOYBEANS
STARCH
STOCKS
SUBSTITUTES
SUBSTITUTION
SUGAR
SUGAR CANE
SUGAR CROPS
SUNFLOWER
SUNFLOWER OIL
TOTAL COSTS
VEGETABLE OIL
VEGETABLE OILS
WHEAT
WHEAT FUTURES
WHEAT PRICES
WORLD MARKET
WORLD MARKETS
YIELDS
spellingShingle AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS
AGRICULTURAL MARKETS
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
AGRICULTURE
ANIMAL FATS
BANANAS
BEETS
BIODIESEL
BIOFUEL
BIOFUEL PRODUCTION
BIOFUEL USE
BIOFUELS
BIOFUELS PRODUCTION
BY-PRODUCTS
CEREAL PRICES
CEREALS
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
COMMODITY
COMMODITY PRICE
COMMODITY PRICES
CONSUMER PRICES
CONSUMERS
CORN
CORN PRICES
COST INCREASES
COTTONSEED
CROP
CROP PRICES
CROP PRODUCTION
CROP PROSPECTS
DEBT
DEMAND FOR FOOD
DEMAND GROWTH
ELASTICITY
ENERGY PRICES
ETHANOL
ETHANOL PRODUCTION
EXCHANGE RATES
EXCISE TAXES
FAO
FARM
FERTILIZER
FINANCIAL CRISIS
FLAX
FOOD EXPORTS
FOOD GRAINS
FOOD POLICY
FOOD POLICY RESEARCH
FOOD PRICES
FOOD PRODUCTION
FOOD PRODUCTS
FOOD RIOTS
FOODS
FORECASTS
FOSSIL FUELS
GRAIN
GRAIN CONSUMPTION
GRAIN PRICES
GRAIN PRODUCTION
HOUSEHOLD INCOMES
IFPRI
INFLATION
INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
MAIZE
MAIZE PRODUCTION
MARKET DEVELOPMENTS
MARKET PRICES
MEAL
MEATS
OILSEED PRICES
OILSEEDS
PALM OIL
PALM OIL PRICES
POULTRY
POULTRY INDUSTRY
PRICE INCREASE
PRICE INCREASES
PRICE INDEX
PRICE INFLATION
PRODUCE
PRODUCTION COSTS
PROTEIN
RAPESEED
RENEWABLE FUELS
RETAIL
RETAIL PRICES
RICE
RICE PRICE
RICE PRICES
RICE PRODUCTION
SOYBEAN
SOYBEAN OIL
SOYBEAN PRICES
SOYBEANS
STARCH
STOCKS
SUBSTITUTES
SUBSTITUTION
SUGAR
SUGAR CANE
SUGAR CROPS
SUNFLOWER
SUNFLOWER OIL
TOTAL COSTS
VEGETABLE OIL
VEGETABLE OILS
WHEAT
WHEAT FUTURES
WHEAT PRICES
WORLD MARKET
WORLD MARKETS
YIELDS
AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS
AGRICULTURAL MARKETS
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
AGRICULTURE
ANIMAL FATS
BANANAS
BEETS
BIODIESEL
BIOFUEL
BIOFUEL PRODUCTION
BIOFUEL USE
BIOFUELS
BIOFUELS PRODUCTION
BY-PRODUCTS
CEREAL PRICES
CEREALS
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
COMMODITY
COMMODITY PRICE
COMMODITY PRICES
CONSUMER PRICES
CONSUMERS
CORN
CORN PRICES
COST INCREASES
COTTONSEED
CROP
CROP PRICES
CROP PRODUCTION
CROP PROSPECTS
DEBT
DEMAND FOR FOOD
DEMAND GROWTH
ELASTICITY
ENERGY PRICES
ETHANOL
ETHANOL PRODUCTION
EXCHANGE RATES
EXCISE TAXES
FAO
FARM
FERTILIZER
FINANCIAL CRISIS
FLAX
FOOD EXPORTS
FOOD GRAINS
FOOD POLICY
FOOD POLICY RESEARCH
FOOD PRICES
FOOD PRODUCTION
FOOD PRODUCTS
FOOD RIOTS
FOODS
FORECASTS
FOSSIL FUELS
GRAIN
GRAIN CONSUMPTION
GRAIN PRICES
GRAIN PRODUCTION
HOUSEHOLD INCOMES
IFPRI
INFLATION
INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
MAIZE
MAIZE PRODUCTION
MARKET DEVELOPMENTS
MARKET PRICES
MEAL
MEATS
OILSEED PRICES
OILSEEDS
PALM OIL
PALM OIL PRICES
POULTRY
POULTRY INDUSTRY
PRICE INCREASE
PRICE INCREASES
PRICE INDEX
PRICE INFLATION
PRODUCE
PRODUCTION COSTS
PROTEIN
RAPESEED
RENEWABLE FUELS
RETAIL
RETAIL PRICES
RICE
RICE PRICE
RICE PRICES
RICE PRODUCTION
SOYBEAN
SOYBEAN OIL
SOYBEAN PRICES
SOYBEANS
STARCH
STOCKS
SUBSTITUTES
SUBSTITUTION
SUGAR
SUGAR CANE
SUGAR CROPS
SUNFLOWER
SUNFLOWER OIL
TOTAL COSTS
VEGETABLE OIL
VEGETABLE OILS
WHEAT
WHEAT FUTURES
WHEAT PRICES
WORLD MARKET
WORLD MARKETS
YIELDS
Mitchell, Donald
A Note on Rising Food Prices
description The rapid rise in food prices has been a burden on the poor in developing countries, who spend roughly half of their household incomes on food. This paper examines the factors behind the rapid increase in internationally traded food prices since 2002 and estimates the contribution of various factors such as the increased production of biofuels from food grains and oilseeds, the weak dollar, and the increase in food production costs due to higher energy prices. It concludes that the most important factor was the large increase in biofuels production in the U.S. and the EU. Without these increases, global wheat and maize stocks would not have declined appreciably, oilseed prices would not have tripled, and price increases due to other factors, such as droughts, would have been more moderate. Recent export bans and speculative activities would probably not have occurred because they were largely responses to rising prices. While it is difficult to compare the results of this study with those of other studies due to differences in methodologies, time periods and prices considered, many other studies have also recognized biofuels production as a major driver of food prices. The contribution of biofuels to the rise in food prices raises an important policy issue, since much of the increase was due to EU and U.S. government policies that provided incentives to biofuels production, and biofuels policies which subsidize production need to be reconsidered in light of their impact on food prices.
topic_facet AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS
AGRICULTURAL MARKETS
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
AGRICULTURE
ANIMAL FATS
BANANAS
BEETS
BIODIESEL
BIOFUEL
BIOFUEL PRODUCTION
BIOFUEL USE
BIOFUELS
BIOFUELS PRODUCTION
BY-PRODUCTS
CEREAL PRICES
CEREALS
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
COMMODITY
COMMODITY PRICE
COMMODITY PRICES
CONSUMER PRICES
CONSUMERS
CORN
CORN PRICES
COST INCREASES
COTTONSEED
CROP
CROP PRICES
CROP PRODUCTION
CROP PROSPECTS
DEBT
DEMAND FOR FOOD
DEMAND GROWTH
ELASTICITY
ENERGY PRICES
ETHANOL
ETHANOL PRODUCTION
EXCHANGE RATES
EXCISE TAXES
FAO
FARM
FERTILIZER
FINANCIAL CRISIS
FLAX
FOOD EXPORTS
FOOD GRAINS
FOOD POLICY
FOOD POLICY RESEARCH
FOOD PRICES
FOOD PRODUCTION
FOOD PRODUCTS
FOOD RIOTS
FOODS
FORECASTS
FOSSIL FUELS
GRAIN
GRAIN CONSUMPTION
GRAIN PRICES
GRAIN PRODUCTION
HOUSEHOLD INCOMES
IFPRI
INFLATION
INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
MAIZE
MAIZE PRODUCTION
MARKET DEVELOPMENTS
MARKET PRICES
MEAL
MEATS
OILSEED PRICES
OILSEEDS
PALM OIL
PALM OIL PRICES
POULTRY
POULTRY INDUSTRY
PRICE INCREASE
PRICE INCREASES
PRICE INDEX
PRICE INFLATION
PRODUCE
PRODUCTION COSTS
PROTEIN
RAPESEED
RENEWABLE FUELS
RETAIL
RETAIL PRICES
RICE
RICE PRICE
RICE PRICES
RICE PRODUCTION
SOYBEAN
SOYBEAN OIL
SOYBEAN PRICES
SOYBEANS
STARCH
STOCKS
SUBSTITUTES
SUBSTITUTION
SUGAR
SUGAR CANE
SUGAR CROPS
SUNFLOWER
SUNFLOWER OIL
TOTAL COSTS
VEGETABLE OIL
VEGETABLE OILS
WHEAT
WHEAT FUTURES
WHEAT PRICES
WORLD MARKET
WORLD MARKETS
YIELDS
author Mitchell, Donald
author_facet Mitchell, Donald
author_sort Mitchell, Donald
title A Note on Rising Food Prices
title_short A Note on Rising Food Prices
title_full A Note on Rising Food Prices
title_fullStr A Note on Rising Food Prices
title_full_unstemmed A Note on Rising Food Prices
title_sort note on rising food prices
publisher World Bank, Washington, DC
publishDate 2008-07
url http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2008/07/9724305/note-rising-food-prices
https://hdl.handle.net/10986/6820
work_keys_str_mv AT mitchelldonald anoteonrisingfoodprices
AT mitchelldonald noteonrisingfoodprices
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