Global food security was on the top of the agenda at last week's International Grains Forum in Perth, Australia.

The forum provided a global-scaled opportunity for growers, traders, millers, terminal operators, governments and other industry representatives to rub elbows with a diverse range of people involved in the grains business and discuss issues considered likely to effect the future of the global grains industry.

Food security was charged as being the greatest challenge in our history by master of ceremonies and author, Julian Cribb.

He said it was an issue greater than world wars and the global financial crisis and meant a lot more than simply putting food on the table.

"It has been particularly challenging for the global grains industry, especially in view of the crop shortfalls in parts of the world, most notably in the Black Sea region," said Etsuo Kitahara, International Grains Council (IGC) executive director. "Prices also have moved sharply higher since the council last met in June."

Meanwhile, he said despite this season's problems, global grain availabilities in the council's five year global supply and demand projections to 2015/16, appeared to be higher than assumed at the same time last year. Although the consumption figures had been revised upward, Mr Kitahara believed it hadn't resulted in major changes to the overall projected balance of supply and demand.

Mr Kitahara was joined on stage by a number of industry speakers including vice president of overseas operations for the US Wheat Associates, Vince Peterson.

Although Mr Peterson had a slightly different perspective on the attributes of the current global wheat industry, Mr Kitahara and his fellow presenters were all very frank about the seriousness of a potential global food shortage.

(Source: Global food security mooted as No 1 issue [Farm Weekly])