UN Issues Warning on Food Crisis

UN Issues Warning on Food Crisis - Rosenthal and Martin, New York Times

Resolving the global food crisis could cost as much as $30 billion a year and wealthier nations are doing little to help the developing world face the problem, United Nations officials said Tuesday. At a UN food summit attended by dozens of world leaders, Jacques Diouf, head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, opened the meeting by sharply criticizing wealthy nations who he said were cutting back on agriculture programs for the world’s poor and ignoring deforestation - while spending billions on carbon markets, subsidies for farmers and biofuel production.

Leaders Urged to Address Food Crisis - Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times

World powers must act quickly and boldly to control soaring food prices that threaten nearly 1 billion people with hunger and could trigger devastating social unrest across the globe, the United Nations said Tuesday. At a three-day emergency food summit, UN officials urged nations to eliminate trade barriers, expand biotechnology research and boost production with an annual investment of $20 billion to $30 billion.