United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has now joined the growing number of world leaders in warning of the immediate need of addressing the escalating global food prices. On Sunday, the UN top official stated that food production must be increased to help ease the skyrocketing prices.

The Secretary-General also pledged to establish a task force to deal with the crisis threatening to further destabilize developing nations. The storm of rising food prices have caused protests and riots in countries around the world.

Ban Ki-moon, speaking at a five-day United Nations conference on trade and development in Accra, Ghana stated, “We must make no mistake—the problem is big. If we offer the right aid, the solutions will come.” He also made the point that the world has consumed more than it has produced over the past three years.

“I will work on this right now with a sense of urgency,” said Ban Ki-moon. The United Nations World Food Program has plans to raise $750 million this year to hlp feed at least 73 million hungry ii 80 different countries.

The sense of urgency among global leaders reflects the increasing threat to global security being spawned by the food price crisis. As an increasing number of nations are beginning to feel the storm surge from the rising prices, it has become apparent that too many states are at real risk of serious instability, and possibly far worse, for world leaders not to take immediate action.

The question now is how fast can the world respond, and will the aid come in time to keep even more governments from being toppled by their poor clamoring for food they can afford.