Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) – The food crisis that has come as a result of soaring prices of certain products that form the staple food product for millions of people and the rising fuel cost, is causing an unprecedented crisis on a worldwide level. The FAO is, thus, once again expressing its serious concerns just weeks after the world summit held in Rome, which focused on the problem of undernourishment and agricultural production. According to recent data from the General Director of this United Nations entity, Jacques Diouf, the number of hungry people increased by about 50 million in 2007. Many countries affected by the crisis are not equipped to meet the emergency on their own and are in need of multilateral collaboration, of forming alliances with international institutions and with other nations.
There are various factors that are producing this grave crisis, many of which have been enumerated in Rome. Among these are the increasing demand for agricultural products, due to demographic growth and the economic progress of developing countries; the decision made by some larger nations in investing in bio-fuels and the relatively rapid rate at which this sector is growing and taking over lands that would still be considered arable lands for growing crops; the interruption of agricultural production due to climate changes and their effects, especially drought and flooding, which have caused great damages in both Africa and in southeast Asia.
It is also worth noting that cereal stocks are at their lowest levels in 30 years. The FAO says that in order to respond to the current crisis, global food production needs to double by 2050. Still under accusation are those exporting nations of agricultural products that invest on their own markets in order to conserve their own consumers.
The FAO especially indicates that the share of agriculture in official development assistance has declined from 17 percent in 1980 to only three percent in 2006, without counting the minimum level of investments that come in from the scientific research in the agricultural field in these same countries: it is an ever-increasing difficulty, for which the international community as a whole is responsible. The estimated incremental public investment needs about US$24 billion every year – this includes increased resources for water management, rural roads, storage facilities, as well as research and extension.
Among the facts that are most a cause for concern is the world’s loss of agricultural land: 5-10 million hectares of agricultural land every year due to severe degradation. However, in Africa, Latin America and Central Asia there is a great potential for expanding land under cultivation. Lastly, there remains the great “unknown” of the climate changes: If temperatures rise by more than three degrees, yields of major crops like maize may fall by 20-40 percent in parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America. (Mtp) (Agenzia Fides 4/7/2008)
