Food prices around the world are set for a "significant and long-lasting" period of inflation because of a variety of factors, including demand from China and India, Nestle's chairman said in an interview published Friday.

The use of crops for biofuels and general population growth would also continue pushing food prices higher, Peter Brabeck told the Financial Times while on a trip to China.

"They will have a long-lasting impact on food prices," Brabeck told the business daily, referring to longterm and structural factors affecting prices.

He also cited rising demand from "the phenomena of India and China" as leading to higherfood prices.

According to the FT, corn prices have risen about 60 percent in the past year, and wheat prices have gained about 50 percent in that time, while sugar, milk and cocoa prices have also increased.