G8 summit to test resolve on economy, climate change, food security

• Source: Xinhua
• [18:16 July 07 2009]
• Comments

 FIGHTING WORLD HUNGER

 Amid the current financial crisis, food security stands out as an urgent issue facing the international community and is expected to be high on the summit agenda.

 More than 1 billion people, or every one in six, are starving, according to a report issued by the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) on June 19. The number of the hungry increased worldwide by about 100 million in 2008 alone, a hike of 11 percent.

 "The silent hunger crisis...poses a serious risk for world peace and security," said FAO Director General Jacques Diouf.

 While global economic crisis has worsened food security, flawed international food trading system is another factor to blame, analysts said.

 Trade protectionism is a major enemy of food security. Only a fair and rational trade order of world agricultural products can help keep farmers in developing countries well-motivated in production and ensure the sustainable development of the global agriculture, they noted.

 As the G8 agricultural ministers failed to reach any agreement on removing the trade barriers at their meeting in April, the world is now expecting the G8 leaders to come up with some effective remedies for the problem.