Oral

This session will explore the root causes, health effects of and solutions to the current crisis. Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to: 1. Delineate the long-term and recent causes of the food crisis on a global level 2. Outline the health effects of long-term food insecurity in conjunction with the short-term price hikes 3. Explore the long-term trends in chronic household food insecurity and malnutrition from a case study focused on 4. Elucidate the global policy changes required to improve food security in the short and long-term.

Session Objectives: 2007 and 2008 saw enormous increases in the price of staple foods around the world due to a variety of causes. The most impoverished populations are being affected to the greatest degree and being forced to spend even more of their meager incomes on food and those on the margins of poverty are sinking below the poverty level in order to feed their households. In fact, in many countries the word “crisis” is a misnomer given the persistent levels of malnourishment and food insecurity that have existed for several years. The 2008 crisis has roots in international trade and aid policies.