Biotech Updates

FAO: Use Your Oil Resources to Improve Agriculture in Africa

May 11, 2012

The FAO Director General José Graziano da Silva has made a clarion call to oil rich African nations to utilize revenues generated from oil to make their countries food secure. Graziano da Silva was speaking during FAO's Regional Conference for Africa on 30 April, 2012 in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo.

"I would like to appeal to African nations, especially oil-producing countries to invest some of these resources in agriculture in a sustainable manner without damaging the environment," said Graziano da Silva in his address. The FAO Director also made a call for more stakeholders within the continent to be engaged in efforts to make the continent food secure.

"The private sector also has a role to play. It will be responsible for the bulk of investment that agriculture needs. Overcoming famine was by no means the result of FAO's effort alone: we were, and are, working closely with other UN partners, including UNDP, UNICEF and WFP, with regional bodies such as the IGAD and the African Union, with NGOs and civil society organizations and with the farmers, pastoralists and cooperatives," he added.

Find the DG's statement at  http://www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/025/md760e.pdf.