Who will feed the world? The news: The French Presidency has organised, in partnership with the European Commission and the European Parliament, a conference "Who will feed the world? ­ Towards diverse, sustainable forms of agriculture as drivers of development" Commissioners Mariann Fischer Boel and Louis Michel will participate, together with Hans- Gert Pöttering, President of the European Parliament, French Ministers Michel Barnier and Bernard Kouchner, WTO Director General Pascal Lamy, FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf and others. The aim of the conference is to have a discussion on the challenges facing today's agriculture (food, energy, climate and the environment), including the question of the future of agriculture in developing countries and new initiatives in the fields of policy and governance. The background: The recent increases in food prices, as a result of a complex combination of both structural and more temporary factors, are having a dramatic impact on the world's poorest populations. Responses to this situation have to be sought at all levels: - The European Commission adopted on 20 May a Communication outlining the European response to mitigate the effects of rising food prices. - The European Council will discuss the effects of rising food prices on 19/20 June The event: From 8.30 to 17.00: Conference at the European Parliament, Brussels. The Conference is open to all. Registration can be done via the website http://www.parlonsagriculture.com/feedtheworld The sources: I-057708: World Food Security Who will feed the world? http://www.parlonsagriculture.com/feedtheworld Nourrir le monde: http://www.nourrirlemonde.org/ European Commission's website: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/foodprices/index_en.htm Commissioner Fischer Boel's blog: http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/fischer-boel/ The contacts: Michael Mann +32 2 299 97 80 michael.mann@ec.europa.eu John Clancy +32 2 295 37 73 john.clancy@ec.europa.eu Johan Reyniers +32 2 295 67 28 johan.reyniers@ec.europa.eu 10 - Hoofdinhoud

The European Parliament hosted an international conference in Brussels on 3 July 2008 devoted to the food challenge. Beyond the world discussions which began at the FAO summit in Rome in June, the participants agreed on the need to tailor answers to each situation, by encouraging the development of local agricultural markets for example.

François Traore gives his book to Michel Barnier, the French Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries.

Cheick Saidou / MAP

“Understand in order to act”: this was the main thrust of the conference held on 3 July 2008 in the European Parliament in Brussels, on the subject of the global food crisis. Organised by Michel Barnier, the French Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, in conjunction with the European Commission, this event brought together over 800 participants, among which several ministers and European Commissioners, as well as a number of representatives from the agricultural sector and civil society. The conference provided the opportunity to listen to and share experiences to guide future decisions.

The President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering, reiterated the urgency of the situation and the need to offer a global response to this crucial issue, “Who will feed the world?”. Crop yields, global markets, rising raw material prices, but also respect for the environment, water resource management, factoring in climate change, etc., were all subjects explored in the first session. Speakers namely included the French Minister, the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mariann Fischer Boel, and the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid. Erik Orsenna, the well-known novelist and vice-president of the Foundation for world agriculture and rural life (FARM) gave his own view of the situation, saying that ‘real issues’ were reclaiming centre stage, while reminding participants that ironically, virtually all foodstuffs “embody” enough water for their production - a way of underscoring the omnipresence of environmental issues.

The Deputy Director-General of the French National Research Agency (ANR) and the Director-General of the International Food Policy Research Institute shed light on the debate by sharing their experiences. Just before lunch, Letizia Moratti, the Mayor of Milan, presented the Universal Exhibition which Milan will host in 2015 on the subject “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”. In the afternoon, a second round table brought together - among others - Jacques Diouf, Director-General of the FAO, Aziz Akhannouch, Minister for Agriculture and Marine Fisheries of the Kingdom of Morocco, and Neil Parish, President of the European Parliament Agriculture Committee, to exchange views on regional and world governance of agriculture. In the presence of Pascal Lamy, WTO Director-General, the discussion turned naturally to the ongoing trade negotiations of which agriculture is a core issue. To conclude the day where plenty of ideas were exchanged, the World Bank Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala took the floor to underline a double urgency: that of using humanitarian aid to help the starving, and in the longer term, providing effective support for agriculture in developing countries. Her point of view was largely shared by Michel Barnier, the French Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, the European Commissioner, Louis Michel, and by Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the Executive Secretary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS); furthermore, they highlighted the importance of a regional approach to develop practical partnerships in the field of agriculture by pooling resources to confront common challenges such as climate change, desertification, health crises, etc. They also reiterated the importance of national-level regulatory policies and the development of trade between countries with similar development levels. See article giving a general presentation of the conference "Who will feed the world? Towards diverse, sustainable forms of agriculture as drivers of development"