Publication - 14 April, 2008
Millions of people are facing food shortages, unaffordable food prices and in many cases, hunger. Global grainreserves are declining, and grain prices are skyrocketing. There are many underlying factors for the current crisis,from bad harvests due to climate change, unjust distribution of food, diversion of grain to fuel cars, or the globalincrease in meat consumption.In this situation, the first ever scientific assessment of global agriculture, finished in April 2008, calls for fundamental change in farming practices, in order to address soaring food prices, hunger, social inequities and environmental disasters. The report, commonly known as the World Agriculture Report, is formally called the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD). This is Greenpeace's briefing paper following the completion of the assessment.