Biotech Updates

Clinton Calls for “Maximum Agricultural Self-Sufficiency”

October 31, 2008

The international community should go back to a policy of "maximum agricultural self-sufficiency"  to solve world hunger. This was stressed by former U.S. President Bill Clinton in his keynote speech at a World Food Day commemoration at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Clinton called for an increase in fair-trade provisions and other policies to lessen the gap between agricultural producers in developed countries and small farmers who are responsible for most of the world’s food production.

Earlier, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged countries to work together to come up with a “comprehensive approach to food security". “The current difficulties will only intensify if we fail to take resolute action now,” the UN chief said.

The highlights of the World Food Day speeches are at http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2008/1000945/index.html