16.04.2009 – 16:04

Humboldt Forum for Food and Agriculture: The World Faces Dire Food Shortages

- Problem Likely to Expand to Developed Countries
   - Agricultural Productivity Growth Declining
   - Governments and Businesses Need to Urgently Invest in 
     Agriculture

In response to the threat of global malnutrition and food
insecurity, the recently established Humboldt Forum for Food and
Agriculture has urged the immediate adoption of a five-point plan of
action, entitled "Food First".

According to the Forum, annual agricultural productivity growth
has fallen since the 1960s from around four per cent to about one per
cent today, due largely to an ongoing decline in agricultural
research investment. Meanwhile, the Forum predicts that the price of
food will continue to increase; the world's population and per capita
food consumption will continue to grow, while land, water and other
resources as well as the impact of global warming will increasingly
constrain growth in global food production. One of the main forces of
food prices are the prices for energy. Therefore, high prices for
fossil fuel and other sources of energy will have a direct impact on
food prices.

Stressing the need for immediate action, the Forum warned that the
world's political and business leaders must return to the basics and
invest in agricultural innovation as a key priority, particularly
during the current global economic crisis. Otherwise, the world faces
an even more uncertain future with food shortages likely to worsen
and expand to the developed world, leading to increased inflation,
political and economic instability as well as social unrest.

Key recommendations include the establishment of an A25 - an
International Monitoring Board; the return of global agricultural
innovation to the political agenda; a renewed commitment to invest in
agriculture of developing countries; the creation of new funding and
the reallocation of existing resources; and an acknowledgement that
food and bio-energy can co-exist.

About HFFA The Humboldt Forum for Food and Agriculture is a
leading think tank in global agriculture that brings together a
unique mix of internationally recognised thinkers from science, civil
society and industry. Its goal is to develop scientifically based
policy recommendations for the future of global food and agriculture.
For further information, please contact: www.humboldtforum.org

Contact:

Mathis Brauchbar, Media Relations
Humboldt Forum for Food and Agriculture
Mobile: +41/79/407'93'62
E-Mail: info@humboldtforum.org