<p>World food prices fell for a ninth month in a row in December, though they hit their highest level on record for the full year in 2022, UN data showed Friday.</p>.<p>Food prices soared to a monthly record high in March after Russia invaded agricultural powerhouse Ukraine, a major supplier of wheat and cooking oil to the world.</p>.<p>A Russian naval blockade that prevented Ukrainian grain exports was lifted following a deal in July that was brokered by Turkey and the United Nations.</p>.<p>The Food and Agriculture Organization said Friday its price index, which tracks the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities, fell to 132.4 points in December, a 1.9 per cent drop from November.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-offbeat/can-the-french-embrace-cuisine-sans-alcohol-1177315.html" target="_blank">Can the French embrace cuisine sans alcohol?</a></strong></p>.<p>It was also one per cent lower than in December 2021.</p>.<p>But the index was 14.3 per cent higher overall in 2022 compared to the previous year as it reached an all-time high of 143.7 points.</p>.<p>"Calmer food commodity prices are welcome after two very volatile years," FAO chief economist Maximo Torero said in a statement.</p>.<p>"It is important to remain vigilant and keep a strong focus on mitigating global food insecurity given that world food prices remain at elevated levels," he said.</p>.<p>Torero said many staples are near record highs, with prices of rice rising and "still many risks associated with future supplies".</p>
<p>World food prices fell for a ninth month in a row in December, though they hit their highest level on record for the full year in 2022, UN data showed Friday.</p>.<p>Food prices soared to a monthly record high in March after Russia invaded agricultural powerhouse Ukraine, a major supplier of wheat and cooking oil to the world.</p>.<p>A Russian naval blockade that prevented Ukrainian grain exports was lifted following a deal in July that was brokered by Turkey and the United Nations.</p>.<p>The Food and Agriculture Organization said Friday its price index, which tracks the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities, fell to 132.4 points in December, a 1.9 per cent drop from November.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-offbeat/can-the-french-embrace-cuisine-sans-alcohol-1177315.html" target="_blank">Can the French embrace cuisine sans alcohol?</a></strong></p>.<p>It was also one per cent lower than in December 2021.</p>.<p>But the index was 14.3 per cent higher overall in 2022 compared to the previous year as it reached an all-time high of 143.7 points.</p>.<p>"Calmer food commodity prices are welcome after two very volatile years," FAO chief economist Maximo Torero said in a statement.</p>.<p>"It is important to remain vigilant and keep a strong focus on mitigating global food insecurity given that world food prices remain at elevated levels," he said.</p>.<p>Torero said many staples are near record highs, with prices of rice rising and "still many risks associated with future supplies".</p>