CED Publications
CED Publications
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There was hope that the World Food C  onference in Rome would come up with
sincere policy decisions that would address the challenges to food security.
But it failed to discuss the challenge to food security from biofuels and climate
change; it failed to take a tough stand on either. Nor could it persuade
rich countries to bring down farm subsidies that are distorting agricultural
trade. States and financial institutions agreed that their agriculture
policies had failed and there was a need to increase investment in
agriculture, but beyond that there was no sign of a fresh approach.Like so many international negotiation rounds before, this conference too saw the urgent needs of the world's poor hijacked by the interests of the rich and powerful nations. The most active participants at the Rome Conference were not UN agencies, but private players like International Seed Federation, International Fertiliser Association and the International Feeds Association. As one commentator on the food crisis summed up, "Across the globe, the entire chain of resources and inputs are now being cornered by corporations. Farm land, water, fertiliser, seeds, pesticides and many more. Grab these together and you've got the world by its belly. The giant companies are now putting out papers on how they will solve the world's food problem. Never mind the fact that they are at the heart of it ". Critical Concerns has focused on the Food Crisis in the last three issues and the inevitable conclusion we have arrived at the end of the day is simple: The food crisis can be resolved only if the right to food is given precedence over the right to profits. |
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