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In proposing measures to curb erratic swings in food prices, global leaders have conflated high prices with unstable ones. That's a mistake. In fact, the real problem is expensive food, so policies aimed at curbing volatility -- such as export bans, price stabilization schemes, and subsidies for farmers -- won't help those who need it.

From the Middle East to Madagascar, high prices are spawning land grabs and ousting dictators. Welcome to the 21st-century food wars.

The "green revolution" dramatically boosted crop yields throughout the world, but it also bred overconfidence and complacency. Now, global food stocks are too low, and food prices are too high (partly as a result of use of food for biofuels). The article talks about declining rates of increase in agricultural productivity as a result of reductions in investment in agricultural research.

Rising prices, powerful storms, severe droughts and floods, and other unexpected events are likely to play havoc with the fabric of global society.