Experts require radical change of agricultural policy
Poor harvests, towering food prices and revolts: to make sure there will be enough food worldwide 4000 scientists and politicans have asked to reform agricultural policy completely, warning that we need reforming markets against hunger
15.04.2008 |Der Spiegel / NRC Handelsblad
Poor harvest, high prices for food and revolts from hunger: to make sure there will be enough food worldwide 4000 scientist and politicans require to reform agriculture completely. Der Spiegel states this in an article "Experten fordern radikale Umkehr der Agrarpolitik".
The result is clear – and not encouraging at all: to provide for everyone, including the poor, and facing the danger of social commotion and ecological catastrophes, cultivation methods must be changed worldwile, the report states at the Worldagricultur Council (IAASTD), which was presented on Tuesday in Paris. Industrial agriculture with monoculture and intensive use of money and pesticides reached the limit, it is time to act. “Business as usual is not longer an option”, it’s said in the document, which was signed by 54 countries. The present system is not helpful for poor people.”Poor developing countries are the losers from further liberation of trade”, explained IAASTD director Robert Watson. “The focus of the global agricultural economy must no longer be only on mass production, which causes more and more destruction and division on this planet. It is not a new message, but it’s not well enough heared in some parts of the world”, according to the report.
