FOOD PRICES & THE VOLATILITY OF AGRICULTURAL MARKETS – THE VARIABLES AT STAKE

Starting from the second half of 2010, prices on the agricultural commodity markets began to rise very rapidly.

The volatility of agricultural markets is a novel phenomenon in many ways, one causing concern because the current situation is highly likely to continue over time and will exert pressure on the entire agri-food system if effective solutions are not found and shared.

What causes this discontinuity? What changes have taken place in recent years?