Brown calls for G8 action on food crisis

By Lesley Wroughton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Wednesday called for a coordinated response led by the United Nations, World Bank and International Monetary Fund to address soaring food prices.

In an April 8 letter, Brown asked Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, as chair of Group of Eight industrial nations, to request the international agencies develop a global strategy to address the problem of rising food costs.

"For the first time in decades, the number of people facing hunger is growing," Brown wrote in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters ahead of World Bank and IMF meetings in Washington this weekend.

"The international community needs a fully coordinated response," he added. "I would propose that you, as chair of the G8, ask the World Bank, the IMF and the UN to urgently work together to lead the development of an international strategy to address all the elements of this crisis."

Among the responses he cited, was a redoubling of efforts to reach a Doha global trade deal, improving agricultural output in developing countries, boosting support for farm research; and examining the impact of different biofuels methods.

Brown also called for World Bank and IMF financial support for countries facing balance of payments difficulties because of the price hikes. He said market-based risk management instruments, including derivatives, could also be considered to avert food price volatility.

In addition, urgent action was needed to explore the impact of climate change on the livelihoods of the poor, he said.

A combination of rising fuel costs, more demand for food in wealthier Asia, the use of farmland and crops for biofuels, bad weather and speculation on futures markets have all pushed up food prices, prompting violent protests in a handful of poor countries.