In the recently held World Food Crisis Summit in Rome, UN FAO Director General Jacques Diouf pointed out several factors that contribute to the food crisis: ” . . . the restrictive measures taken by producing countries to meet the needs of their populations, the impact of climate change and speculation on futures markets will place the world in a dangerous situation . . . whatever the extent of their financial reserves, some countries might not find food to buy.”
He called for “innovative and imaginative solutions”, including “partnership agreements … between countries that have financial resources, management capabilities and …read more

At the start of the three-day World Food Crisis Summit in Rome (3 June 2008), UN Food & Agriculture Organization Director General Jacques Diouf, noting that $ 1,200 billion were spent on arms in 2006, asked the delegates: ” . . . how can we explain to people of good sense and good faith that it was not possible to find US$30 billion a year to enable 862 million hungry people to enjoy the most fundamental of human rights: the right to food and thus the right to life?”
The 2008 Philippine National Budget is about $30.3 billion, 0.1% of …read more

189 Countries in a 2000 United Nations Millennium Summit signed the Millennium Declaration setting forth 8 Millennium Development Goals.

Poverty & Hunger
Poverty rates are falling in Asia, while the poor in sub-Saharan Africa are getting poorer. With urban populations growing faster than housing and jobs, about 1 billion people live in slums where basic sanitation (e.g., drinking water & toilets) are inadequate. Millions more are hungry in Southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Half the children under age 5 are malnourished.
Environmental Sustainability
Sustainable development as a national policy has been adopted by most countries, but positive effects on …read more

Experts predict a food crisis in the near term. In developed economies, it is still just a more than usual increase in food prices. There are shortages in some countries. In others, there are food riots.
A ProForma Balance Sheet shows how the food crisis has developed:

In 2000 at the United Nations Millennium Summit, 189 nations signed a Millennium Declaration which sets forth 8 development goals to be achieved by 2015.

Source: http://www.undp.org/mdg/basics.shtml
Three of the Millennium Development Goals, with their focus on poverty, environmental sustainability, and global cooperative effort, address the food crisis directly. As the Millennium …read more