Friday, June 6, 2008

Rising food prices need global perspective

by Jo Black

Rising food prices are a matter of concern and need immediate global response.

There is a need to build a global platform for dialogue and action to manage the crisis, according to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in a statement.

The entire issue of food prices needs to be seen in a global perspective and not just seen as an issue emanating from specific countries.

There is a need for greater flow of global information on food production and consumption and cuts in food wastage, said Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII.

He said a task force is being set up look into this area.

CII is of the view that the current crisis has been created due to several reasons.

The main factors for the crisis include diversion of food to bio fuels, changing weather conditions across the globe leading to droughts, which mean lower food production in several countries and huge agricultural subsidies which encourage leaving agricultural land fallow to maintain global prices of agricultural products.

CII is of the view that this crisis should trigger a global discussion to build stronger information networks on consumption and production so that corrective measures can be taken across the globe to avert such a crisis.

The global food management system can be developed under the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), according to CII.

CII has been proactively campaigning for focussed reforms in Agriculture.

The CII Task Force on Food will look into improving productivity, bridging yield gap, encouraging private sector participation in distribution of food, said Director General of CII Chandrajit Banerjee.

CII is also of the view and is working on an agenda for developing second generation of bio-fuels which do not eat into the food stock or impinge on agricultural land.

This calls for a global discussion on how this can be managed and extensive partnerships in R&D for development of second generation feed-stocks, because alternate supply of fuels cannot also be ignored, he added.

 

 

 

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