At the initiation of France, the Group of 20 agricultural ministers held a summit in Paris on June 22-23 to discuss ways to ensure food security and tame volatility in food prices. Global food prices have soared to a record high this year, raising concerns of new round of social unrest like that which spread through many regions of the world in 2008.
Between 2006 to 2008, average global prices for food staples soared, with rice jumping 217 percent, wheat 136 percent, corn 125 percent and soybeans 107 percent.
Some experts argued that global population growth was to blame, while others pointed to dietary changes brought about by growing prosperity in developing countries, including an increase in the consumption of meat (7 kg of grain are required to raise 1 kg of beef) and processed foods.