Rome, Aug. 7 -- Global food commodity prices edged higher in July as rising cereal, vegetable oil and sugar prices outweighed declines in meat and dairy products, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in international prices of a basket of globally traded food commodities, averaged 131.1 points in July, up 0.6 per cent from June and 1.0 per cent higher than a year earlier.

The increase was driven by higher prices of cereals, vegetable oils and sugar, reflecting concerns over weather conditions, energy markets and geopolitical developments.

The FAO Cereal Price Index rose 3.4 per cent from June, reversing its decline in May and standing 6.9 ...