Following years of complacency about food security and agriculture, world food prices began increasing in 2000 and currently remain well above long run trends. Research into this phenomenon reveals a highly complex and cross-disciplinary issue, which is fast becoming a defining feature of our times. Fuelled by a huge variety of interlinking factors, including rapid or improved economic growth -particularly in Asia and Africa - as well water scarcity, climate change, and the increasing demand for biofuels, the renewed urgency due to recent high food prices has focused much-needed attention...