Two bad seasons from disaster? High food prices were a key factor in triggering unprecedented political unrest around the Arab world but now a major global food crisis is looming that could destabilise the region even further.

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Two bad seasons from disaster? High food prices were a key factor in triggering unprecedented political unrest around the Arab world but now a major global food crisis is looming that could destabilise the region even further.

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THE POLITICAL TURMOIL THAT HAS SWEPT ACROSS THE ARAB WORLD since January was unleashed in part because of high food prices in countries that depend on imports to feed burgeoning populations. All the indicators are that this situation will get worse before it gets better in the Middle East.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates that over the last decade global food prices have risen by an average of 83%. In February, the FAO declared global food prices were ar a new all-time high. With another mu...

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