In October 2010 the newly reformed Committee on World Food Security (CFS) requested its High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE) to conduct a study on price volatility and to present the findings at its next session in October 2011.
The High Level Panel of Experts for Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE) was created in October 2009 as an essential element of the reform of CFS, and as the scientific and knowledge-based pillar of the Global Partnership for Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition. The HLPE was launched in July 2010 with the appointment of its Steering Committee. The HLPE seeks to improve the robustness of the policy making by providing independent advice to assist the CFS in reaching political consensus, and in turn, take political decisions based on comprehensive assessments.
Following the 36th meeting of the CFS, the HLPE was entrusted with the mandate to undertake studies and present policy recommendations on issues related to world food security. This includes a study on price volatility that covers “all of its causes and consequences, including market distorting practices and links to financial markets, and appropriate and coherent policies, actions, tools and institutions to manage the risks linked to excessive price volatility in agriculture. This should include prevention and mitigation for vulnerable producers, and consumers, particularly the poor, women and children, that are appropriate to different levels (local, national, regional and international) and are based on a review of existing studies. The study should consider how vulnerable nations and populations can ensure access to food when volatility causes market disruptions”.