The global food crisis of 2008 came as a surprise and was unprecedented in its scale. There are many assumptions and speculations about its causes. In particular, the agricultural subsidies of industrialized countries are seen by some observers as responsible for this crisis. Their analysis is one of the focal points of this book. Furthermore, the role of biofuel production, the rising prosperity in emerging countries, and speculation in commodity futures markets are also discussed. The book sheds light on the influence of these potential causes on the food crisis. The course of the crisis is documented through numerous illustrations.