Past experience has shown, however, that such an approach can result in agricultural policies that are dominated by distorting forms of support, including price support, which in turn threaten the food security of poor consumers. These negative consequences are particularly acute when food shortages occur for other reasons, like an economic downturn or a natural disaster. The APEC Policy Partnership on Food Security (PPFS), formed in 2011, is a forum for discussing issues related to food security, bringing together individuals from the private and public sectors to help facilitate investment, liberalise trade and market access, and support sustainable development.