As the World Summit on Food Security begins next week in Rome, U.S. civil society organizations expressed concern with the Obama administration's support for increasing intensive, large-scale agriculture production and trade expansion as a solution to rising global hunger-failed approaches that have actually contributed to the global food crisis.
In a letter signed by 23 U.S. organizations, the groups thanked the administration for its efforts to increase foreign assistance and to better coordinate government agencies in responding to the global food crisis. But they questioned why the administration has not recognized the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology (IAASTD) report, supported by over 50 countries, "which represents a global consensus about what course international investment in agriculture should take to meet social and environmental goals." Instead, the Obama administration aggressively promoted the use of patented genetically engineered seeds and increasing large-scale production practices, the groups charged.
"Our officials, along with U.S. agribusiness, are spreading the myth that more intensive production can feed the world, a message that is not only incorrect but dangerous in terms of its harmful impacts on sustainable livelihoods for the majority of food producers, and its exacerbation of the converging climate, economic, water and energy crises," said the letter.
The groups called on the Obama administration to take bold action to resolve the global food crisis in a way that is healthy for people and the environment. The letter outlined 10 recommendations that focused on issues such as trade reform, food aid funding, market regulation and investments in sustainable agriculture.
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U.S. Groups Call for Leadership from the Obama Administration at the World Summit on Food Security
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U.S. groups call for leadership from the Obama administration at the World Summit on Food Security
Administration’s support for genetic engineering and trade deregulation are troubling
By IATP
Common Dreams, November 13, 2009
Straight to the Source
