G8 FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVE NO HELP FOR WORLD'S HUNGRY
by Anuradha Mittal
Inter Press Service
As the number of the world's hungry hit a historic high of one billion in 2009, the G8 held a lavish three-day summit/gala at which 25,000 meals were served to the powerful elites from rich countries, writes Anuradha Mittal, executive director of the Oakland Institute.
In this article, the author writes that if the G8 is indeed committed to ending hunger, it must stop the steady drumbeat of proselytising for free markets and technological solutions to hunger.
The L'Aquila Food Security Initiative advocates a technological agricultural revolution based in part on genetically-engineered crops despite the fact that the promises of feeding the world with GM products have proven to be empty so far. Continued efforts by the G8 to improve agricultural productivity through these technologies serve the interests of the biotech corporations alone.
Instead of promoting dressed-up versions of their old failed "development" formulas, the G8 needs to help governments in developing countries to put in place or restore sustainable and resilient agricultural systems.
Global Issues