Food

July 17, 2008 -- At the 1996 World Food Summit (WFS) in Rome, the United States and more than 180 world leaders pledged to halve the total number of undernourished people worldwide from the 1990 level---a commitment that they reaffirmed in 2000 when they established the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), which included a target to halve the proportion or the percentage of the world's population that is undernourished by 2015.    » read more »

Retailer Increases Partnerships with Local Growers and Encourages Customers to Celebrate a Locally Grown Independence Day

BENTONVILLE, Ark., July 1, 2008 – Wal-Mart today announced its commitment to source more local fruits and vegetables to keep produce prices down and provide affordable selections that are fresh and healthful. The retailer also reported that partnerships with local farmers have grown by 50 percent over the past two years – one example of the company’s efforts to support local economies, cut shipping costs and provide fresh food offerings.    » read more »

Chicago’s Wrigley Field and Detroit’s Comerica Park’s Official Hot Dog – the Ball Park Frank – Ranks First and Third in Nationwide Poll

DOWNERS GROVE, IL (July 1, 2008) – As any baseball fan knows, a visit to the ball park is incomplete without enjoying a classic stadium hot dog. In a nationwide poll by the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council to find the top stadium dog, Ball Park® Franks delivered a grand slam as the official hot dog for Chicago’s Wrigley Field – 1st place tie with Yankee Stadium – and Detroit’s Comerica Park, which finished third place behind Boston’s Fenway Park.    » read more »

Government actions behind two-thirds of food price increase

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 16 June 2008 – Business leaders at the World Economic Forum on East Asia highlighted the role of government in food price increases, warning of mounting unrest and protectionism if urgent actions are not taken.    » read more »

Senators push to put a ‘cop on the beat’ to crack down on manipulation and excessive speculation

June 12, 2008 -- WASHINGTON – Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) today introduced, along with Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), the Close the London Loophole Act, [PDF] which would ensure that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has the same authority to detect, prevent, and punish manipulation and excessive speculation for traders in the United States who trade crude U.S. oil or other energy commodities on foreign commodity exchanges as the CFTC has for traders who trade on U.S. exchanges.    » read more »

Despite volatility, rise of foreign banks in developing countries holds promise

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, June 10, 2008 - In the wake of financial turmoil in high income countries and amidst high food and energy prices, developing countries' growth is easing but is still robust.

Bourke's Luck Potholes, Blyde River, South Africa: Photo by Pet_r (CC)

Private capital flows to emerging markets, which hit a record $1 trillion in 2007, are expected to drop to around $800 billion by 2009, which would still be the second highest level ever, says a new World Bank report.    » read more »

Farmers need resources for next planting season; Experts are optimistic about solving the problem

Cape Town, South Africa, 5 June 2008 – Governments, multilateral organizations and aid agencies should ensure that African smallholders receive the inputs they need for the next planting season and create the conditions for sustained growth in agriculture to defuse what Jacob G. Zuma, President of the African National Congress (ANC), South Africa, called a “time bomb” of food prices that could lead to an “uprising” should the poor be “cut out from buying food”.    » read more »

4-06-2008 -- Geneva (ICRC) - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is significantly stepping up its humanitarian relief work in Somalia to respond to the deepening crisis there.

Hundreds of thousands of Somalis face life-threatening food and water shortages due to the escalating armed conflict and the effects of the recent severe drought in central Somalia.

Somalia, April 2008: Photo by Feinstein International Center (CC)

High inflation and the worldwide rise in commodity prices, especially for key imports such as food and fuel, are aggravating the situation.    » read more »

June 3, 2008 -- In remarks presented at a High-Level Conference on World Food Security in Rome, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn today warned that high food prices are a serious humanitarian concern as well as a source of macroeconomic instability affecting budgets, trade balances, prices and incomes almost everywhere in the world.

He urged donor governments and agencies to move swiftly to support appropriate food aid, particularly for the world's poor, calling effective action a "moral and economic imperative."    » read more »

June 2, 2008 -- With the summer harvest season right around the corner, and roadside produce stands popping up at country intersections across the state, the end of spring is a mouthwatering time to think about Michigan agriculture.

When, after months of delays, Congress recently passed the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, also known as the Farm Bill, the season was appropriate. This critical legislation – which was passed over a presidential veto – will offer a boost to the Michigan farmers who sell their produce locally and who send Michigan-grown agriculture across the country. The bill will also crack down on speculators who are driving high energy prices, and offer much-needed support for conservation, biofuels and nutrition programs.    » read more »

June 2, 2008 -- Washington, DC – Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-DE) issued the following statement urging the 40 heads of state expected at tomorrow’s world food summit in Rome to unite in taking bold, decisive steps to alleviate the global food crisis:

“Tomorrow’s summit offers a significant opportunity for world leaders to address the global food crisis. For 20 years we have not invested enough in agricultural assistance. The results for the developing world have been disastrous. We are in danger of reversing the progress against poverty we’ve made over the last seven years.    » read more »

Joined by Oregon food industry companies, the Governor challenges others in industry to help meet growing demand

May 29, 2008 -- (Portland) – Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski today issued his final challenge of Hunger Awareness Week, asking the food industry to find creative ways to partner with the Oregon’s Food Bank Network to feed hungry families.

Creation of these partnerships will help the Network, representing more than 900 food distribution sites across Oregon, provide families with well-balanced, nutritious foods.    » read more »

Farmers in 35 counties to participate in Illinois WIC and Senior Farmers Market programs for locally grown fruits and vegetables

May 29, 2008 -- SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today announced that an additional nine counties will participate in the 2008 Women Infant and Children’s (WIC) and Senior Farmers Market programs.    » read more »

14 May 2008 -- With senior ministers gathered in New York for high-level talks on sustainable development, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called today for a “second green revolution” that would embrace innovative agricultural methods, produce enough food to feed the burgeoning global population, and promote eco-friendly urban and rural development, especially in Africa.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, May 14 – Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) applauded inclusion of key nutrition, renewable energy, and food security provisions in a farm bill poised for final passage by the Senate later this week. The measure also expands the Milk Income Loss Contract Program crucial to Vermont dairy farmers.

Sanders championed a fresh-produce snack program. He helped to secure expanded support for wood as an energy resource. A nutrition education program that links schools with community gardens also was included at his request in the final bill.    » read more »