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The global food crisis attracted global attention in mid-2008 as the weak food system fell apart, putting additional millions of people into poverty. This study answers a two-fold research question: In the first analytical-diagnostic part, the nature and scope of the crisis, its manifestations and underlying causes are examined. In the second normative part, the policy responses implemented in the short term are critically assessed, and further long-term policy recommendations are offered. The major finding is that there was no such thing as a global food crisis, but rather a global food price crisis based on fundamental failures in the global food system. Furthermore, the short-term responses mainly tackled the price issue, but did not address and solve the structural causes, particularly not the fundamental constraints of agricultural production in developing countries. It is therefore argued that policymakers should seize the global food price crisis as an opportunity to cure the current and redesign a more sustainable global food system.

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Linda Karrer is a native Swiss and draws from extended stays in $outh/North America and Asia. She holds a Master degree in International Affairs and Governance from the University of St. Gallen (Switzerland) and Chulalongkorn University in Thailand.

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