Food Summit Calls for More Investment in Agriculture

The Summit on soaring food prices, convened by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, Italy, came to a close last week with an adoption and declaration calling on the international community to increase assistance for Least Developed Countries and those that are most negatively affected by high food prices.

"There is an urgent need to help developing countries and countries in transition to expand agriculture and food production, and to increase investment in agriculture, agribusiness and rural development from both public and private sources," according to the declaration.

Donors and International Financial Institutions are urged to provide "balance of payments support and budget support to food-importing, Low-income countries. Other measures should be considered as necessary to improve the financial situation of the countries in need, including reviewing debt servicing as necessary," it said.