The recent rapid increases in the international prices of many basic food commodities have raised many questions from policy-makers, the media, the public, and the farmers who have the opportunity to benefit from the situation. Those who have the most reason to be concerned are the vulnerable people who have to adjust to the consequences of their decreased purchasing power, which in some cases, affects their ability to buy enough food to feed their families. This report, prepared as background to the Round Table discussions at IFAD