THE HIGH-LEVEL CONFERENCE ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY:
THE CHALLENGES OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND BIOENERGY
3 - 5 JUNE 2008, ROME, ITALY Addressing the global food crisis:
Key trade, investment and commodity policies in ensuring sustainable food
security and alleviating poverty
ADVANCE UNEDITED VERSION
The recent global food crisis can be seen as a wake-up call which can be turned into an opportunity by
developing countries and the international community to revitalize global agriculture production and
trade and do more to rectify the systemic imbalances in global agricultural production and trade that
have contributed over the years to today's problems. The crisis has highlighted inherent tensions that
exist in regard to the agricultural food sector. Responses to the crisis will have to include both shortterm
and longer-term measures, reflecting the fact that the crisis has both short-term and underlying
structural causes and implications. Of course the immediate and urgent priority is to ensure that
adequate food is delivered to the people in need. This task is being well addressed by the humanitarian
and emergency agencies. It does not stop there, however - responses to the more fundamental and
deep-seated factors are equally important. From a trade and development perspective, and within the
framework of a comprehensive approach to the crisis by the United Nations System, UNCTAD
recommends a number of policy measures and concrete actions in respect of trade, investment and
agriculture development at the national, regional and international levels.
Some papers: Assessing
the impacts of food insecurity in Sudan ( T.
Frankenberger;J. Downen;J. Meyer / Food and Nutrition Technical
Assistance Project , 2007) This study provides an assessment of
the key issues related to the impact that the Comprehensive Peace
Agreement (CPA) has had on the most insecure food and nutritionally
vulnerable areas and people... Overcoming
barriers in developing agricultural biotechnology in Africa ( N. Clark;J.
Mugabe;J. Smith / African Centre for Technology Studies , 2008) This book provides an overview of the
potential benefits of agricultural biotechnology in Africa in the
context of continuous poor agricultural production and rising food
insecurity... Developing
agricultural practices that will achieve food sovereignty
( P. Mulvany / UK
Food Group , 2007) The article focuses on the debates
and discussions that took place at the Nyéléni 2007 Forum for Food
Sovereignty, which was held in Mali, representing organisations across
various sectors... Green Revolution 2.0 initiatives in
Africa: the start of a corporate biotech boom? ( Action Group on
Erosion, Technology and Concentration formerly RAFI , 2008) When the G8 meets in June 2008 in
Germany they are expected to announce a new research agenda that will
again propose scientific solutions to Africa’s social problems. This
communiqué ...
( F. Kanampiu;J.
Ransom;J. Gressel / Africancrops.net , 2002) Focusing on sub-Saharan Africa, this
paper presents both challenges and possible solutions over the weeds
Striga hermonthica and S. Asiatic, which destroy maize, millet,
sorghum, and upland rice. ... Using
biotechnology to effectively manage weed problems in African agriculture
Social
protection key to mitigating famine ( R. Menon / Human
Development Report Office, UNDP , 2007) Reports of a devastating famine in
Malawi first surfaced as rumors whispered in rural areas in the
country around October 2001. However, little was done by way of
action, despite warnings from expert ... A methodology for measuring the
impact of development interventions on food security ( R.,M. Saleth;A.
Dinar;S. Neubert / International Water Management Institute , 2007) Governments and development agencies
constantly plan, implement, and evaluate various development
interventions, and there is an understandable concern over the actual
impacts that these interventi... What are the spatio-temporal
variations of rice yields in China and Brazil? ( L. You /
International Food Policy Research Institute , 2008) Increasing population growth and
scarcity of land suitable for rice production suggest that China and
Brazil need to further increase rice productivity if they hope to
continue meeting the... more
papers here
The Hunger Project
The Hunger Project is an unconventional, strategic organization. The Hunger
Project does not provide “relief.” Rather, The Hunger Projects works in
authentic partnership with the people of developing countries to address the
root causes of hunger and to ensure that all people have the chance to lead
healthy and productive lives.
Today, The Hunger Project works in more than 10,000 villages across 13
developing countries in Africa, South Asia and
Latin America. It carries out proven strategies that
are empowering millions of people to achieve lasting progress in health,
education, nutrition and family income.
In addition to directly empowering hungry people, The Hunger Project works
strategically to change policies, catalyze society-wide transformation of the
conditions holding hunger in place, and strengthen the local democratic
structures through which people can meet their basic needs on a sustainable
basis.
Topics Monthly Newsletter
A. Sen: Public Action to remedy hunger
(1990)
I shall argue that systematic public action can eradicate the terrible and
resilient problems of starvation and hunger in the world in which we live. But I
shall also argue that for this to be secured on a lasting basis it is important
to integrate the protective role of the government with the efficient
functioning of other economic and social institutions - varying from trade and
commerce to the news media and political parties. It is also important to see
public action in a broad perspective - involving active parts played by
the public itself, going well beyond state planning and governmental actions.
J.Hammond:
Famines: Myths, Media and
Misundertanding
From Links 22, September 1985
Interpretations of famine are often confused and shrouded in myth. To
start our investigation of the causes of famines, Jenny Hammond isolates
and explains some of the most common myths
Conference on
Hunger and Poverty.-1995
After months of preparations and an interactive process, involving the
collaboration of many diverse stakeholders, the Conference on Hunger and Poverty
was held in Brussels on 20-21 November 1995. The focus was on the civil society,
its experiences and potential in fighting hunger and poverty. Near to one
thousand people welcomed the opportunity to participate in this event which held
the promises of being action-oriented and down-to-earth. Together, they examined
the possibilities of forming a coalition to increase the ability and the
capacity of organizations within the civil society to empower the poor and
hungry, provide them with appropriate and meaningful technology, strengthen the
coping strategies of vulnerable groups and provide ways and means by which the
people and the local communities can reverse the degradation of their natural
resource base. The Conference debate was organized into four substantive
sessions dedicated to these challenges.
Food First
The Institute for Food and
Development Policy/Food First shapes how people think by analyzing the root
causes of global hunger, poverty, and ecological degradation and developing
solutions in partnership with movements working for social change. ----------------------
The state of food insecurity in the world
reports on
global and national efforts to reach the goal set by the 1996 World Food Summit: to reduce by half the
number of undernourished people in the world by the year 2015.
As representatives of the world's governments gather to address shortages
in major foodstuffs and rising prices, Gonzalo Oviedo counsels them to focus on
ecosystems. The modern business-dominated agricultural industry, he argues,
promotes the degradation of nature - and that, in turn, means less and worse
food.
Four plant species - wheat, maize, rice and potato - provide over
half of the plant-based calories in the human diet.
Feeding the world requires healthy ecosystems and equitable
governance.
The current model of market-driven food production is leaving people hungry.
Biofuel
production is certainly one of the culprits in the current global food crisis.
But while the diversion of corn from food to biofuel feedstock has been a factor
in food prices shooting up, the more primordial problem has been the conversion
of economies that are largely food-self-sufficient into chronic food importers.
Here the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Trade
Organization (WTO) figure as much more important villains
From The World Bank Group -
April 2008 '7 Lost Years' -
The Effect of Rising Food
Prices on Poverty
WASHINGTON, April 11, 2008 - World
Bank President Robert Zoellick warned today of the
threat posed by rising food prices world-wide.
Zoellick he stressed that food prices would be at the
top of the agenda, and that the international
community must make agriculture a priority.
Brandishing a sack of rice to make his point, World
Bank president Robert Zoellick told reporters in
Washington that rice prices have jumped 75%
globally…and that’s in the last two months.
In Bangladesh, a 2 kilogram bag of rice now costs half
of a family’s daily income. And the price of rice is
likely to rise again.
From the World Bank Development Committee - 2008 Rising food
prices: Policy
options and World Bank response
The rising
trend in international food prices continued, and even accelerated, in 2008.U.S.
wheat export prices rose from $375/ton in January to $440/ton in March, and
Thai rice export prices increased from $365/ton to $562/ton. This came on top
of a 181 percent increase in global wheat prices over the 36 months leading up
to February 2008, and a 83 percent increase in overall global food prices over
the same period
Increased
bio-fuel production has contributed to the rise in food prices. Concerns
over oil prices, energy security and climate change have prompted governments
to take a more proactive stance towards encouraging production and use of
bio-fuels. This has led to increased demand for bio-fuel raw materials, such
as wheat, soy, maize and palm oil, and increased competition for cropland. Almost
all of the increase in global maize production from 2004 to 2007 (the period
when grain prices rose sharply) went for bio-fuels production in the U.S.,
while existing stocks were depleted by an increase in global consumption for
other uses. Other developments, such as droughts in Australia
and poor crops in the E.U. and Ukraine
in 2006 and 2007, were largely offset by good crops and increased exports in
other countries and would not, on their own, have had a significant impact on
prices. Only a relatively small share of the increase in food production prices
(around 15%) is due directly to higher energy and fertilizer costs.
Numerous countries have set standards or targets for use
of bio-fuels. The E.U. has set a goal of 5.75 percent of motor fuel use from
bio-fuels by 2010. The U.S.
has mandated the use of 28.4 billion liters of bio-fuels for transportation by
2012. Brazil will require
that all diesel oil contain 2 percent bio-diesel by 2008 and 5 percent by 2013,
and Thailand
will require 10 percent ethanol in all gasoline starting in 2007. India mandates a 5 percent ethanol blend in nine
states, and China
is requiring a 10 percent ethanol blend in five provinces.
From 2004 to 2007, global maize
production increased 51 million tons, biofuel use in the U.S. increased 50 million tons and
global consumption for all other uses increased 33 million tons, which caused
global stocks to decline by 30 million tons.
This note is being distributed for information as background to the
discussion of recent market developments at the Development Committee meeting. It
was prepared by PREM, ARD and DEC, drawing from work across
the Bank. Questions/comments should be addressed to Ana Revenga, PRMPR (ext.
89850).
UNCTAD Policy Briefs No. 2 - June 2008
Tackling the Global Food Crisis
This policy brief addresses the systemic causes of the crisis and identifies strategic policy
measures...
From the International Food Policy Research Institute
Washington, D. C., U.S.A. The World Food Situation: new driving
forces and required actions
J. von Braun - December 2007
The world food situation is currently being rapidly redefined by new driving forces. Income growth, climate
change, high energy prices, globalization, and urbanization are transforming food consumption,
production, and markets.The influence of the private sector in the world food system, especially the leverage
of food retailers, is also rapidly increasing. Changes in food availability, rising commodity prices, and new producer–
consumer linkages have crucial implications for the livelihoods of poor and food-insecure people.
Analyzing and interpreting recent trends and emerging challenges in the world food situation is essential in
order to provide policymakers with the necessary information to mobilize adequate responses at the local,
national, regional, and international levels. It is also critical for helping to appropriately adjust research agendas
in agriculture, nutrition, and health. Not surprisingly, renewed global attention is being given to the role of agriculture
and food in development policy, as can be seen from the World Bank’s World Development Report,
accelerated public action in African agriculture under the New Partnership for Africa’s Development
(NEPAD), and the Asian Development Bank’s recent initiatives for more investment in agriculture, to name
just a few examples.
Contents:
Acknowledgments -
The World Food Equation, Rewritten -
Outlook on Global Food Scarcity and
Food-Energy Price Links -
Poverty and the Food and Nutrition Situation -
Conclusions -
Notes -
References Tables:
1. China: Per capita annual household consumption
2. Change in food-consumption quantity, ratios 2005/1990
3. Expected impacts of climate change on global cereal production
4. Consumption spending response (%) when prices change by 1%
(“elasticity”)
5. Changes in world prices of feedstock crops and sugar by 2020
under two scenarios compared with baseline levels (%)
6. Net cereal exports and imports for selected countries
(three-year averages 2003–2005)
7. Purchases and sales of staple foods by the poor
(% of total expenditure of all poor)
8. Expected number of undernourished in millions, incorporating
the effects of climate change
By Eric Holt-Gimenez, Ph.D., Miguel A. Altieri, Ph.D., and Peter Rosset, Ph.D.
...1. The Green Revolution actually deepens the divide between rich and poor farmers. In the
1960s, at the beginning of the first Green Revolution, the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations
promoted industrial-style agriculture in the Global South through technology “packages”
that included modern varieties (MVs), fertilizer, pesticides, and irrigation. The high cost of
these purchased inputs deepened the divide between large farmers and smallholders because
the latter could not afford the technology. In both Mexico and India, seminal studies revealed
that the Green Revolution’s expensive “packages” favored a minority of economically
privileged farmers, put the majority smallholders at a disadvantage, and led to the
concentration of land and resources...
RP2006/70
S. S. Acharya:
National
Food Policies Impacting on Food Security: The Experience of India, a Large
Populated Country (PDF 138KB)
India accounts for 16.7 per cent of the world’s food consumers. With the exception of
China, India’s size in terms of food consumers is many times larger than the average
size of the rest of the countries. At the time of independence in 1947, India was in the
grip of a serious food crisis, which was accentuated by the partition of the country. The
demand for food far exceeded supply, food prices were high and more than half of the
population living below the poverty line with inadequate purchasing power. With high
rates of population growth, the dependence on imported food increased further.
However, the situation improved considerably after the mid-1960s, when new
agricultural development strategy and food policies were adopted. The production of
staple cereals increased substantially, mainly contributed by productivity improvements.
The dependence on food imports decreased and the country became a marginal net
exporter of cereals. There was also an improvement in physical and economic access of
RP2006/68
K. L. Sharma: Food
Security in the South Pacific Island Countries with Special Reference to the
Fiji Islands (PDF 104KB)
This paper analyses the status of food security in selected South Pacific Island countries,
namely Cook Islands, Fiji Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and
Vanuatu at the national and household levels during the period 1991-2002. Due to narrow
resource base and production conditions, Pacific Islands concentrate on a few primary
commodities for production and exports. During recent years import dependency for food
items has increased mainly due to a decline in per capita food production and a rapid rate of
rural-urban migration. Currently, export earnings can finance food imports but earnings could
fall short of the requirements needed after the expiry of some commodity preferential price
agreements with importing countries. National food security is dependent on the continuation
of subsistence farming and tapping ocean resources in conjunction with the on-going
commercial farming of those crops in which Pacific Islands have a comparative advantage.
Increased productivity is crucial for improving agricultural performance through government
investment in rural infrastructure, agricultural research and extension, irrigation and
appropriate price incentives. This would also help alleviate poverty for improvement in
economic accessibility of food by households. There is also a need to design appropriate
disaster risk management programmes to minimize any adverse effects on the food supply.
RP2006/67
Vasco Molini:
Food
Security in Vietnam during the 1990s: The Empirical Evidence (PDF
127KB)
Analysing the performance of ten developing countries, Hoddinot and Yohannes (2002) find
a strong association between two measures of food security (calorie intake and mostly
dietary diversity) and the increase in expenditures per capita. Using various indicators of
food security, we describe the changes in food balances in Vietnam and find evidence of a
substitution of poor micronutrients items (rice and cereals) with rich ones like fruit,
vegetables fish and meat. Poor households, while increasing the amount of calories
consumed, still lack vitamins, iron, calcium, etc. A preliminary assessment of the food
security variation showed that improvements were, as expected, more concentrated among
the richer Vietnamese households than the poor ones, although there was some
improvement among poorer strata as well. We also focus on the calorie/expenditure
elasticity and compare results for the years 1993 and 1998. Our findings confirm that this
link is strong, and show that calorie income elasticity changed in the expected direction. We
conclude that in general food security improved in Vietnam during 1990s although
considerable differences still remain among expenditure deciles and among regions due to
the accentuated spatial difference.
RP2006/61
Margret Vidar:
State
Recognition of the Right to Food at the National Level (PDF
114KB)
This paper considers to what extent the human right to food has been recognized by
countries in the world, by analysing international obligations and constitutional
provisions, bearing in mind that the right to food may be either explicitly or implicitly
protected at the constitutional level. It considers constitutional examples from
Switzerland, South Africa and India.
RP2006/60
Samuel K. Gayi: Does
the WTO Agreement on Agriculture Endanger Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa?
(PDF 192KB)
The paper examines the state of food security in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), based on an
analysis of a selection of indicators of food security and nutritional wellbeing during the
period 1990-2002 within the context of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture. It argues
that it may be advisable for those SSA countries with both static and dynamic
comparative advantage in agriculture to pursue policies towards ‘food self-sufficiency’
as a means to attaining food security, considering their large rural farming population, at
least until such time that international trade in agriculture is fully integrated into the
WTO disciplines. This is particularly relevant in view of the fact that high agricultural
protectionism in the north currently distorts price signals and thus the opportunity costs
of allocating factors of production in these economies. The SSA countries that lack
comparative advantage in agriculture may want to aim for a ‘food self-reliance’ strategy
to attain food security.
From The
Independent - 22 May 2005 Revealed: health fears over secret study
into GM food Rats fed GM corn due for sale in Britain developed
abnormalities in blood and kidneys By Geoffrey Lean, Environment Editor - When fed to rats it affected their kidneys
and blood counts. So what might it do to humans? We think you should be told The secret research we reveal today raises the
potential health risks of genetically modified foods. Here, environment editor Geoffrey
Lean, who has led this paper's campaign on GM technology for the past six years, examines
the new evidence. And he asks the questions that must concern us all: why is Monsanto, the
company trying to sell GM corn to Britain and Europe, so reluctant to publish the full
results of its alarming tests on lab rats? Why are our leaders so keen to buy the unproven
technology against the wishes of consumers? And why is the man who first raised these
concerns six years ago shunned by the scientific establishment and his former political
masters?
- How the technology works and what it
promises
By Tom Anderson
Genetically modified (GM) food is produced from plants or animals that have
had their genetic material altered by scientists. Scientists are able to extract
genes from organisms with desirable properties - such as a particular colour or
resistance to a disease - and transfer them to another organism.
The process has sharply divided opinion, between those who believe the
technology will enhance our lives and those who fear it will prove an advance
too far. By far the most commonly modified organisms are crop plants. But the
technology has been applied to almost all forms of life, from pets that glow
under UV light to bacteria that form HIV-blocking "living condoms", and pigs
bearing spinach genes.
