The Threats of Food Price Inflation on Global Food Security

Food security is not merely about filling our plates with just any food; it is a matter of a healthy diet. Yet, multiple factors are interfering with people’s ability to eat nutritious food. One of them is food price inflation.

What is Food Price Inflation?

A healthy diet was unattainable for 32% of the global population in 2024, the Food and Agriculture Organization’s SOFI 2025 report reveals. The report examines the state of global food and nutrition, highlighting food price inflation as one major trend that influences food security worldwide.

In itself, food prices are highly determined by supply and demand. Sudden spikes in demand and disruption in production and distribution, for instance, can cause price volatility. Food price inflation refers to the growth rate of how much households pay for food and non-alcoholic beverages over a given period.

Between 2020 and 2025, the report notes that 139 out of 203 countries experienced over 25% food price inflation. From this number, the inflation exceeded 25% in 49 countries, and went over 100% in 25 countries. The report cites the COVID-19 pandemic recovery as one major reason, where governments provided large-scale financial assistance as the economy was yet to rebound. This resulted in high demand for goods, which contributed to a surge in inflation.

At the same time, the Russia-Ukraine war also impacted global agriculture. It led to increased prices of vital agricultural commodities like fertilizers and caused higher food prices. These spikes contributed to 47% of food price inflation in the United States and 35% in European countries. Additionally, agricultural disruptions due to weather shocks and climate change affected crop yields and distributions.

Implications on Food Security

Unsurprisingly, food price inflation is associated with higher food insecurity and poor nutritional outcomes. The inflation reduces households’ purchasing power, making them unable to fulfill their necessities. The condition is especially worse when wages are not adjusting quickly enough with the rising food prices, which exacerbates hardships for households, even temporarily.

Whenever households struggle to meet basic food needs, they use various coping strategies. They may have to shift to cheaper and less nutritious food items and reduce dietary diversity and meal frequency. The report notes that more nutrient-dense food groups, such as vegetables, fruits, and animal source foods, are almost always more expensive than basic starchy staples. Meanwhile, a healthy diet must include a diverse mix of foods, which is harder to obtain amid food price inflation.

Household coping strategies also include prioritizing food portions for certain members of the family. In the patriarchal reality, it often means reducing the amount of food for women and children. This exacerbates their vulnerabilities and results in various health issues, such as anemia among women and girls, and malnutrition among children. The report finds that a 10% increase in food prices is associated with a 2.7 to 4.3% increase in wasting prevalence and a 4.8 to 6.1% increase in severe wasting among children under five years of age.

Addressing Internal and External Factors

While food price inflation occurs across the globe, the ones bearing the most significant impacts are people from low-income countries. Strengthening national social protection systems related to food security and nutrition, such as food banks and public restaurants, becomes a crucial measure to adapt to highly volatile food prices. As the ability to afford food is closely tied to income, countries must also address the pressing issue of unemployment and ensure adequate income to afford basic necessities.

Still, as global food security hinges on the exchange of commodities between countries, ensuring effective international and regional trade agreements can act as stabilizers when shocks occur. Ultimately, international cooperation and national policies are essential to address urgent issues and strengthen global food security.

Kresentia Madina

Reporter at Green Network Asia | Website | + posts

Madina is the Assistant Manager for Digital Publications at Green Network Asia. She graduated from Universitas Indonesia with a bachelor's degree in English Literature. She has three years of professional experience working on GNA international digital publications, programs, and partnerships particularly on social and cultural issues.