Food agency chief warns food prices will remain high, calls for more production

The International Herald Tribune (New York Times affiliated)
The Associated Press
Published: June 25, 2008

INNSBRUCK, Austria: The head of the U.N.'s food agency on Wednesday warned that food prices will remain high and called for a boost in production.

Food and Agriculture Organization Director-General Jacques Diouf said prices are expected to remain high due to climate change, continued demand for bioenergy, low food stocks and greater demand in emerging countries such as China, India, Indonesia and Brazil that make up a large share of the global population.

Diouf said the problem will not be solved without increasing food production, and he called on world leaders meeting in Japan next month to address this issue.

"Our message is we should increase investment in agriculture," Diouf said, adding that other matters in need of attention include those related to water control, storage and rural roads.

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