Press release

G20 farming meeting must heed expert advice on soaring food prices

21 June 2011

Rising food prices and large-scale hunger will only be prevented by overhauling the EU's farming policy and ending biofuel targets and  food commodity speculation, warns Friends of the Earth today in advance of tomorrow's [Wednesday 22 June] G20 Agriculture meeting.

Ministers from the world's 20 leading economies will meet in Paris on 22 and 23 June to address recent food price volatility. The green campaigning charity is urging them to listen to the latest expert advice on the action needed to combat the food crisis.

Today UN food expert Olivier de Schutter called for an end to European faming policies that rely on large imports of livestock feed. He also criticised speculation on food commodities by banks, hedge funds and private investors.

Last week a leaked document from leading international organisations including the World Bank blamed biofuels targets for soaring food prices.

Friends of the Earth Food Campaigner Kirtana Chandrasekaran said,

"Leading scientists and economists are calling on our leaders to stop pumping global food supplies into fuel and animal feed.

"Europe has a golden opportunity to steer a new farm policy that will help end the daily struggle to put food on the table for millions of people around the world.

"Ditching biofuels targets and factory farming subsidies will help tackle soaring food prices.

"Ministers must control the trading of food supplies and refocus on access to affordable local food for everyone."

Friends of the Earth is calling for:

• An end to biofuels targets in Europe
• A shift from factory farming using imported feed to local planet-friendly farming
• Regulation of speculation in food commodities
• European Governments to strengthen small farmers ability to feed themselves

ENDS

NOTES

1. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food today released his recommendations for the role of European Common Agricultural Policy reform in address the Right to Food. "Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the right to food:The Common Agricultural Policy towards 2020: The role of the European Union in supporting the realization of the right to food Comments and Recommendations by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food". 

2. UN Special Rapportuer report "Food Commodities Speculation and Food Price Crises". 

3. Last week international organisations including the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Food Programme(WFP), World Bank and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) called for an end to Government subsidies to promote biofuels.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust