STWR - Share The World's Resources

Prior to the G20 meeting in April to revive the world economy, a report from the United Nations has called for a "new global green deal" that goes beyond financial objectives to prioritise the environment, climate change and poverty reduction. 

Only by switching to more sustainable farming methods will the world’s farmers be able to grow enough food to meet the demands of a growing population, respond to climate change and alleviate poverty, says a leading expert of the FAO.

Another 40 million people were pushed into hunger in 2008 due to higher food prices, bringing the number of hungry in the world to 963 million, or 14 percent of the world's population, according to a flagship report by the FAO. 

While African governments proclaim their commitments to food self-sufficiency, behind the backs of their people they are signing an alarming number of deals with foreign investors that give these investors control over their countries’ most important agricultural lands, says GRAIN.

The final declaration of farmers and civil society organisations at the High Level Meeting on Food Security, 27 January 2009. "We see the proposed Global Partnership as just another move to give the big corporations and their foundations a formal place at the table," say La Via Campesina.

In the light of the global food crisis, a number of international governments including those of Russia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Morocco are using a system of barter to exchange and share basic commodities, says Javier Blas.