Tuesday, June 10, 2008

The World Needs to Increase Food Production by 50% by 2030

UN Secretary-General calls for 50% increase in Food Output

Rome Summit, Tuesday June 3rd

The UN Secretary General , Ban Ki-moon called for a 50% increase in food production by the year 2030. This statement was made in consideration of rising food and fuel costs, that are predicted to stay elevated, and because of the marked decrease in funding for agricultural development in Third World Countries from the US, the EU, Japan, Switzerland, and Canada. According to the FAO, in 2006 assistance for agricultural projects fell to 3% of total aid from 17% in the 1980s. In addition, the percentage of crops raised to support bio-fuels has risen, and will only continue to rise with further climate change. To solve the current world food crisis, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called for the creation of an independent body to regulate the food market and to divert funds spent on the military to boosting food production and subsidies for the poor.


http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=arUEgzKQ5.Ko&refer=europe