BANGKOK (PPI) - Rising food prices increase social gaps and may lead to social unrest and political instability in many parts of the world, Sebastian Paust, executive director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), said Friday. Speaking at the Asian-European Editors Forum here, Paust cited a World Bank report that 33 countries are facing political and social unrest because of skyrocketing food and energy prices. Already, riots and unrest have erupted in 22 countries, he said. Paust said that a continuing rise in food prices will undermine the gains in poverty reduction, education and health as well as in promoting social and economic stability in Asia. Talking about 'the sheer volume' of the crisis, he said that about a billion people in Asia are seriously affected by the food price surge. He said food expenditures comprise about 60 percent of the total expenditures of the poor, and food and energy consumption expenses make up more than 75 percent of total expenditures. Citing examples, Paust said, a 100 percent increase in food prices would increase the number of the poor in the Philippines by 23 million people and by 60 million in Pakistan. He said rising food bills could also lead to a decline in consumption and health because the poor will eat less, and cheaper and less nutritious food; result in a decrease in school attendance because many parents will not be able to afford to costs of paying for school as well as the opportunity costs. Paust recommended five remedies that include avoiding market distortions like export quotas and export bans, food subsidies, price controls and export/import interventions. He urged government to focus on targeted subsidies to improve access, income and employment for the hardest hit. He called to calm markets and people quickly by, for instance, starting ad hoc social protection programs for the poor by targeted food or better income transfer and starting or expanding nutrition programs focused on school feeding. He urged for strengthening social safety nets through targeted income support for the poor rather than generalized food subsidies on trade measures and price controls and intensifying research for environmentally and socially adapted plants. ADB official urged to make agriculture a political priority and increase investments in rural infrastructure and market development, particularly irrigation, farm-to-market roads, rural finance and scientific research and technology dissemination.