Disappointing end to Food Summit

The World Summit on Food Security wraps up in Rome today under an air of disappointment over the future direction of the cause to eradicate hunger. In his statement to the Summit, the Prime Minister said he’d hoped that the pleas for action would not go unheeded. There was a convergence of crises in the developing world and a failure to act would add considerable burdens to nations already struggling under catastrophic conditions. Marurai said the Cook Islands and other Small Islands Developing States were vulnerable to environmental pressures on food production as well as the increasing costs associated with fuel and transportation. Climate Change and adverse weather are major factors in government planning for adaptation in crop growing, as well as healthy soils, organics, land use management, and marketing. Many Leaders and Ministers expressed the need for political will to drive the policies and finances to eradicate hunger although the World Summit cam up short of actually specifying any targets. Some major donor countries also failed to materialize in Rome to add to the collective voice for action.

Herald Issue 463 10 June
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