forcing them up by 75 percent during that period. In addition, growing consumption demand, the increase of the non-agricultural population in emerging economies and growing purchasing power resulting from economic development were also responsible.

On top of these, grain speculation has fueled food market panic. Song Guoyou, a researcher at the Center for American Studies at Fudan University said a large amount of hot money has poured into crude oil and grain markets because of the financial market fluctuations and the depreciation of the dollar in the wake of the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis.

Zhang said that the protective tariffs and agricultural subsidies long in place in the United States and the EU have posed barriers to normal international trade in agricultural products. As they make agricultural product prices unreasonable in the international market, these policies have dealt heavy blows to the agricultural markets in developing countries and dampened farmers' enthusiasm about grain production, she added.

Collective solution

Today, more than 800 million people across the world are facing the threat of hunger. The number is expected to increase sharply given the rising food prices. Worse still, the food issue has led to social problems and political turmoil in some countries. Analysts believe that concerted efforts should be made to address the food security problem and food price hikes.

The international community should step up its assistance to developing countries to help them pull through the difficulties. But from a long-term perspective, developed countries should consider adjusting their biofuel development strategy. It is also important to foster an equal environment for the trade in agricultural products.

"A fair global agricultural trade environment is even more important to developing countries than foreign aid," said Zhang. "Liberalization of the trade in agricultural products can present opportunities for agricultural development in developing countries and is the basic means of ensuring long-term food security."

At the same time, developed countries should help developing countries strengthen capacity building in agriculture and grain production. "At present, more than half of the African countries have to import food," said Shu Yunguo, Director of the Center for African Studies at the Shanghai Normal University. "Their problems lie in the lack of funds, technology, improved crop species and infrastructure." He believes it is more important to assist them with their self-improvement than to provide them with food aid.

Of course, energy price hikes, changes in the environment and climate and financial stability all have a bearing on food price stability. All countries should strengthen cooperation in a wide range of fields in a joint effort to resolve the global food problem.