Price fluctuations are a common feature of well-functioning agricultural product markets. But when these fluctuations become large and unexpected – or volatile – they can negatively impact the food security of consumers, farmers and entire countries. Since 2007, world markets have seen a series of dramatic fluctuations in commodity prices. Food prices reached their highest levels in 30 years during the summer of 2008 and collapsed the following winter before rapidly rising again in the months that followed.