The FAO estimated that over 1 billion people around the world would be threatened by hunger this year due to the joint effects of the global economic crisis and high food prices.
FAO Director-General Diouf told reporters at a conference in Bangkok: "Current food prices are still 19% higher than the average price in 2006... Therefore, we should say that we are still in a period of high food prices."
In addition, recent FAO studies have shown that although international food prices have declined, retail food prices in many developing countries have not fallen.
Diouf pointed out that the food crisis has not only failed to disappear, but has even deepened due to the financial crisis and economic crisis.
A report drafted for the G8 Ministerial Meeting warned that the world is facing a permanent food crisis and global instability unless countries take immediate action to double agricultural production to feed the rapidly increasing population.