Rising food prices pushed tens of millions of people into extreme poverty last year and are reaching "dangerous levels" in some countries, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said Tuesday as he released new data showing that the cost of grain and other staples is near a historic high.
The costs of some key commodities such as wheat have doubled in the past year, and a World Bank index of overall food costs rose 15 percent from October through January. The bank's food price index, which covers the costs of grain, sugar, food oils and other staples, is just 3 percent below its historic high in 2008 - a level that touched off food riots in several countries.
Zoellick urged major nations to collaborate on ways to temper the rapid price swings that can lead to shortages in the economically weakest nations and prompt others to stockpile grain or restrict exports.
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