Global food security: more European initiatives needed say MEPs

13-01-2009

The European Parliament calls for “immediate and continuous action” to ensure global food security. It believes the aid of EUR 1 billion that the EU has decided to give to developing countries should be accompanied by fresh investment in agriculture and it calls for mechanisms to be set up to ensure that sufficient global food stocks are available.

In the space of two years world food prices have increased by over 80% on average while cereal stocks have fallen in 2008 to a worrying historic low of 40 days’ supply, points out a report drafted by Mairead McGuinness (EPP-ED, IE) and adopted with 482 votes in favour, 24 against and 59 abstentions. According to the World Bank, over 860 million people in the world are facing chronic famine and this figure could rise by 100 million as a result of the current crisis. Commodity prices have fallen back to near-2006 levels but the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) fear they may fluctuate more, and global food demand is expected to double by 2050...

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Petition to the UN and FAO:

'...It is not acceptable that even in a grim situation with hunger and malnutrition killing nearly six million children each year, huge percentages of available crops are still being fed to farm animals.

In the name of humanity, a responsible global community can no longer afford to invest 7-16 kg of grain or soya beans, up to 15,500 liters of water, and 323 m2 of grazing land in the production of just one kilo of beef for those with the means to pay for it. More accessible and sustainable avenues to secure food for all are desperately needed.

Unfortunately, even though the experts of the FAO consider 'Livestock a major threat to environment', they merely recommend different farming techniques, some of which entail the risk of damaging an already vulnerable environment even more, perhaps beyond repair....

Please sign the petition


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Source: Global food security: more European initiatives needed say MEPs
Author: European Parliament

Link: Italy gives €10 million for farm development/Italian Government confirmed as a leading donor to FAO
Link: Oxfam: global food crisis will worsen - 1bn hungry people need help now
Link: 'Food should be a national security issue' - Interview with M. Chipeta on the food crisis in Eastern Africa