U.N. Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon says the price of food has developed into a global crisis. He says the U.N.-sponsored meeting in Bern must find solutions to a problem that is increasing , and in the world. The United Nations estimates about 100 million of the world's poorest people cannot afford to buy food. Because of the costs, the World Food Program says its original for this year is not enough to feed all the hungry. It is appealing for an additional three quarters of $1 billion to meet the extra expenses.

The U.N. refugee agency says millions of refugees and internally displaced people will be particularly hard hit by food prices. Spokesman, Ron Redmond, says most of these people are totally dependent on food donations from the international community.

"This kind of dramatic price increases can also instability, particularly in poor countries and this is of great concern to UNHCR as well, because we are already seeing this happening in several countries," said Redmond. "Of course, the possibility could be eventual increased displacement should it trigger conflict and instability in those countries."

The Food and Agriculture Organization warns rises in cereal prices have left 37 poor countries in an emergency situation. This has sparked food riots in many countries including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Haiti, Ivory Coast, Egypt and .

The meeting in Bern will also address the impact of climate change on food production and explore ways to help poor countries adapt to these changes. The growing over bio-fuels is also on the agenda.

Critics argue that the cultivation of for bio-fuels is taking good land away from food production and causing prices to . Some people are calling for a moratorium on the production of bio-fuels.

The U.N. meeting is expected to with a plan of emergency measures to solve the global food crisis. Participants also will begin to address the longer-term problems.