G20 farming meeting must heed expert advice on soaring food prices

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.