Food prices across the world have risen to their highest levels in a decade on the back of tightening supply conditions coupled with robust demand, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The FAO’s food price index, which measures world food commodity prices, surged 31.3 percent in the 12 months through October, coming in at a reading of 133.2 points, a level not seen since July 2011. On a month-over-month basis, the index rose by 3.9 points, or 3.0 percent, with the October rise representing the third consecutive month of increases. Accounting for the bulk of the rise in the index were higher prices of most cereals and vegetable oils. The FAO vegetable oil price index hit an all-time high of 184.8 points in October, up 16.3 points, or 9.6 percent compared to September’s reading. “The increase was driven by firmer price quotations for palm, …