Objectives

The Consultation aims to review the current situation with regard to high food prices, share information on policy interventions in previous food price crises, identify measures to prevent a re-emergence of another food price crisis, and assist countries in identifying various policy options and mechanisms to build resilience for coping with high food prices. Specifically, it aims to the following:

• Review global, regional and country food security and food price situation and their trend, and share experience on government  policies and programmes;
• Internalize lessons from the 2007-08 and subsequent crises based on the analytical work and studies carried out by FAO and other international agencies and partners;
• Raise awareness of and share experience with the working of recent global initiatives such as the CFS High Level Panel of Experts (CFS-HLPE), the  Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) and the Global Initiative to Promote Agricultural and Rural Statistics and its Regional Action Plan;
• Identify future policy options and their implications in order to facilitate the design and implementation of appropriate policies at country and regional levels and exploring options for international coordination of food security policies;
• Discuss policy measures, including resource allocation, to prevent the emergence of another food price crisis and to build up resilience against negative impacts of high food prices, and agree on next steps and further opportunities for collaboration, including external assistance, at national and regional levels.

Concept note

Provisional agenda

Information note

Presentations

DAY1
OPENING SESSION:
Opening Statement by Lourdes Adriano, Advisor concurrently Practice Leader (Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food Security), ADB
Welcome address by Hiroyuki Konuma, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, FAO
Welcome address by Ganesh Thapa, Regional Economist, Asia and the Pacific Division, IFAD 
Welcome address by Kenro Oshidari, Regional Director for Asia, WFP

SESSION 1: Review of global and regional food security and food price situation and future trends
Global and regional situation and trends,  Mr Ramesh Sharma, Coordinator, Economic, Social and Policy Assistance Group, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific

SESSION 2 (video):
Panel Discussion on analysis of key lessons and policy responses from previous food price crises

DAY 2
SESSION 3: Raising awareness of recent global initiatives
1. The Agricultural Market Information System, AMIS
2. The Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural and Rural Statistics and its Regional Action Plan
3. High and volatile food prices: FAO Support to Country Level Contingency Planning
4. High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) report on climate change
5. High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) social protection for food security

SESSION 4/BREAK-OUT SESSIONS: Identification of future policy options and measures to prevent the re-emergence of another food price crisis
Breakout group instructions
Group I
Group II
Group III

Summary Conclusions (2 Oct 2012)

Summary Conclusions (in track-change-mode)

Media outreach
Media Advisory: Briefing on the conclusions and recommendations of the ADB/FAO/IFAD/WFP High level regional consultation on policies to respond to high food prices
To prevent a new food price crisis experts urge policy changes
Media Advisory Note: ADB/FAO/IFAD/WFP High Level Regional Consultation on Policies to Respond to High Food Prices