IATP's Carin Smaller just returned from the UN Food and Agriculture High Level Conference on Food Security in Rome last week.
The UN food summit ended with a political declaration, some pledges for increased aid, and a draft set of recommendations by the UN Taskforce on the Food Crisis. So what next? There are a few things to look out for if you are concerned about the food crisis.
The first is getting governments to put their words into action. The political declaration is not free from controversy (Argentina, Cuba and Venezuela objected), nor from contradictions (continuing to push free trade while at the same time pushing for further government intervention and regulation of markets to ensure food security). Despite this, the declaration opens the door for radically different policies for trade and investment in agriculture. Now is the chance for groups who have criticized the free trade approach and who have an alternative vision for food and agriculture, to push their governments to take bold steps to change policy.
Second, the UN Taskforce will continue to meet, finalize their work program and implement their recommendations. For now, only UN agencies and the Bretton Woods Institutions are involved. The Taskforce would benefit from participation by representatives of farmers, farm workers, pastoralists, fishers and urban settlers. The FAO should be given the lead role in shaping policies, IFAD should be the main source for financing, and the IAASTD should continue to provide research on science and technology.
Finally, governments will meet again this year to discuss the food crisis. It is important to keep paying attention. The next opportunity will be at the G8 Meeting in Hokkaido, Japan, July 7-9.
