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UNCTAD: Experts to discuss agricultural development and food security in South–South cooperation

Global Arab Network - - Adam Turner

Monday, 14 December 2009 10:29

Tunisia_agricultural_development_and_food_security

Following the 2008 food crisis, experts from over 20 countries will meet from 14-16 December to review how developing nations, with help from the North, can use "South-South" cooperation to improve their farming sectors and strengthen food security.

The meeting, the second session of a multi-year expert meeting on "international cooperation: South–South cooperation and regional integration," will add to the ongoing efforts of the UN system to achieve food security under the framework of the United Nations Secretary-General`s Task Force on the Global Food Crisis. It also aims to extend and strengthen UNCTAD`s work on agriculture from the perspective of its own distinct approach to the integrated treatment of trade, investment, finance, and technology.

Issues to be discussed include the challenge of raising agricultural investment in developing countries; the need to correct persistent distortions in the trading system, particularly the massive agricultural subsidies provided annually to Northern farmers; the threats and opportunities for developing countries in recently climbing foreign direct investment (FDI) in their agricultural sectors, including large-scale acquisitions or leases of farmland by foreign producers; the development of new and appropriate technologies, including those already successfully in use in other developing countries; and the challenge of adapting to climate change.

A discussion of the controversial issue of agricultural land acquisition will take place on the second day of the meeting.

UNCTAD research into spiraling food prices in 2008 and resulting food shortages in a number of developing countries has found that agricultural development has been neglected in recent years and greater attention and support are needed to prevent future, similar crises. Some 1 billion people currently suffer from hunger worldwide. UNCTAD's background paper to the meeting says that South-South cooperation, among other things, may result in the sharing of farming technology and techniques already shown to be successful in developing countries and among small farmers.

Among panellists at the meeting will be J.J. Spies, Director of the Economic Cooperation Department of the Ministry of External Relations of South Africa, who also is a participant in the India Brazil South Africa Dialogue Forum (IBSA); Dr. Antonio Prado of the Brazilian Enterprise for Agriculture and Livestock Research; and Yoshitaka Sumi, Deputy Director General of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, (JICA).

Representing civil society, Anuradha Mittal of the Oakland Institute and Eric Hazard from Oxfam International will make presentations. A number of African civil society organizations will be attending the expert meeting.

A final session will be held on "the way forward," with presentations by the Food and Agriculture Organization; by UN Special Envoy on Food Security and Nutrition Dr. David Nabarro; and by UNCTAD Secretary General Supachai Panitchpakdi.

Global Arab Network

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