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UN sets out food crisis measures UN sets out food crisis measures
(20 minutes later)
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has urged nations to seize an "historic opportunity to revitalise agriculture" as a way of tackling the food crisis.UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has urged nations to seize an "historic opportunity to revitalise agriculture" as a way of tackling the food crisis.
Mr Ban told a UN-sponsored summit in Rome that food production would have to rise by 50% by 2030 to meet demand.Mr Ban told a UN-sponsored summit in Rome that food production would have to rise by 50% by 2030 to meet demand.
Mr Ban said export restrictions and import tariffs ought to be minimised to alleviate the crisis.Mr Ban said export restrictions and import tariffs ought to be minimised to alleviate the crisis.
The summit comes as food costs have reached a 30-year high in real terms, causing riots in many countries.The summit comes as food costs have reached a 30-year high in real terms, causing riots in many countries.
The host of the Rome conference - the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) - has warned the industrialised countries that unless they increase yields, eliminate barriers and move food to where it is needed most, a global catastrophe could result. The host of the conference - the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) - has warned the industrialised countries that unless they increase yields, eliminate barriers and move food to where it is needed most, a global catastrophe could result.
Map showing impact of food price rises on trade balances Map showing impact of food price rises on trade balances
The recent crisis is believed to have pushed 100 million people into hunger worldwide.The recent crisis is believed to have pushed 100 million people into hunger worldwide.
Biofuel issue
Poorer countries are faced with a 40% increase in their food imports bill this year, and experts say some countries' food bills have doubled in the past year.Poorer countries are faced with a 40% increase in their food imports bill this year, and experts say some countries' food bills have doubled in the past year.
"A lot of countries have to import more or less as what they did in the past, they had to because it's the basic food," FAO official Abby Abbassian told the BBC. Access problem
SUMMIT AGENDA Price controls, trade tariffs and export bansSubsidies for biofuelsHelp for farmers in poorer countriesEffect of climate change on agriculture class="" href="/1/hi/business/7425078.stm">Cheap food era over class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/7431126.stm">Challenges for the summit The taskforce Mr Ban created to target the food crisis is expected to present a 38-page report with measures that could cost up to $15bn (£7.5bn) to implement.
"But that means they must have spent at least twice as much as in the previous year because prices have gone up at least by 100%." Beggar Thy Neighbour food policies cannot work - they only distort markets and force prices even higher Ban Ki-moon class="" href="/1/hi/business/7425078.stm">Cheap food era over class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7432864.stm">Pressure mounting for action
The BBC's Christian Fraser in Rome says the FAO is calling on donor countries to dig deeper - to help farmers in developing countries get access to fertiliser, seeds and the animal feed they require. Announcing some of its findings, Mr Ban said high food prices offered a chance to finally address the ongoing problem of access to food for the world's poor.
It says the problem of chronic underinvestment in agriculture can no longer be ignored. "The threats are obvious to us all. Yet this crisis also presents us with an opportunity," he said.
Ahead of the conference, the Islamic Development Bank said at a meeting in Saudi Arabia that it would spend $1.5bn (£760m) over five years to help the least developed Muslim countries tackle the food crisis. "While we must respond immediately to high food prices, it is important that our longer term focus is on improving world food security," he said.
Measures to improve access to food for vulnerable people include expanding aid, boosting smallholder production and minimising export restriction and import tariffs, he added.
Mr Ban urged countries not to unilaterally intervene to control prices.
"Some countries have taken action by limiting exports or by imposing price controls," he said.
SUMMIT AGENDA Price controls, trade tariffs and export bansSubsidies for biofuelsHelp for farmers in poorer countriesEffect of climate change on agriculture Challenges for the summit
"As I have said before, I say again now: Beggar Thy Neighbour food policies cannot work. They only distort markets and force prices even higher."
These measures should be accompanied simultaneously by action to ensure long-term resilience and global food security.
One area expected to generate disagreements in Rome is biofuel - most of the increase in maize production last year went into making fuels such as ethanol, not food.One area expected to generate disagreements in Rome is biofuel - most of the increase in maize production last year went into making fuels such as ethanol, not food.
UN officials said there would be a range of "confidence-building" options for governments.UN officials said there would be a range of "confidence-building" options for governments.
The taskforce Mr Ban created to target the food crisis is expected to present a 38-page report with measures that could cost up to $15bn (£7.5bn) to implement.
Announcing some of its findings, Mr Ban said it would call for a reduction in tariffs and the provision of subsidies for poorer farmers.
HAVE YOUR SAYMr Mugabe attending a UN food summit is like Adolf Hitler attending a UN human rights summitJohn, Yelm, Washington, USAMugabe in Rome - your commentsEyes on Mugabe at Rome summit
Many observers have so far focused on Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, whose presence at the summit has been called "obscene" by the UK and Australia.Many observers have so far focused on Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, whose presence at the summit has been called "obscene" by the UK and Australia.
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said the Zimbabwean president was "the person who has presided over the starvation of his people".Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said the Zimbabwean president was "the person who has presided over the starvation of his people".
Long-term measures will focus on increased investment.
On the eve of the summit, Mr Ban said "we are literally paying the price" for overlooking investment in agriculture.
"If not handled properly, this issue could trigger a cascade of other crises - affecting economic growth, social progress, and even political security around the world," he warned.
The main causes of the rising food prices include rising demand from fast-developing countries, higher oil costs and global warming.
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How can the problem of global food prices be tackled? Should price controls and trade restrictions be eliminated? Tell us your thoughts on the summit in Rome by filling in the form below.
How can the problem of global food prices be tackled? Should price controls and trade restrictions be eliminated? Tell us your thoughts on the summit in Rome by filling in the form below.
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