Food price volatility featuring high prices is likely to continue and possibly increase, exposing farmers and growers to food insecurity and making them more vulnerable to poverty, according to a new report.

The UN’s three Rome-based agencies - the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP) said in The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2011 that small, import-dependent countries, particularly in Africa, are especially at risk.

A joint statement from the heads of the three agencies - Jacques Diouf of FAO, Kanayo F. Nwanze of IFAD and Josette Sheeran of WFP - warned that “even if the Millenium Development Goals were achieved by 2015 some 600 million people in developing countries would still be undernourished. Having 600 million people suffering from hunger on a daily basis is never acceptable.”

FAO’s best estimate of the number of hungry people for 2010 remains at 925 million. For the 2006-2008 period FAO calculates the number of hungry at 850 million.

The report urges “greater policy predictability and general openness to trade” rather than measures to control food movement such as export bans.

The three heads added: "Governments must ensure that a transparent and predictable regulatory environment is in place, one that promotes private investment and increases farm productivity. We must reduce food waste in developed countries through education and policies, and reduce food losses in developing countries by boosting investment in the entire value chain, especially post-harvest processing.

“More sustainable management of our natural resources, forests and fisheries are critical for the food security of many of the poorest members of society.”