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 While the European Council meeting of 19-20 June was overshadowed by the debate over the future of the Lisbon Treaty, EU leaders also discussed responses to the crucial issue of rising global food prices. The NGO network South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) has called on the EU to invest a greater percentage of their development assistance to supporting small-scale farming based on sustainable and local food production, as opposed to capital-intensive industrial farming.
The Council Conclusions acknowledge that rises in food prices: "are severely affecting the situation of the world's poorest populations and are putting at risk progress towards all MDGs. Action is therefore required from the European Union from a development and humanitarian assistance perspective." SAAPE calls on the EU to recognise the fundamental importance of food sovereignty in its response. "Food sovereignty is the answer to the crisis", stated Prem Dangal, General Secretary of the All Nepal Peasants Federation. "It is the inalienable right of peoples to define and implement their own agricultural policies, which are ecologically, socially and economically appropriate to their unique circumstances". A SAAPE press release of 19 June states that: "The European Union should further promote fair trade rules that support small producers and guarantee, that high world market prices make also a difference on the ground and translate into fairer revenues for farmers. As the world has been witnessing in the last years liberalisation of agricultural markets in developing countries will only harm local producers. Therefore the ongoing CAP review must protect the interests of small farmers." The Council also welcomed "the Commission's intention to come forward with a proposal for a new fund to support agriculture in developing countries, within the framework of the current Financial Perspectives." It further stressed "the need here to pursue work on innovation, research and development of agricultural production, notably to enhance its energy efficiency, productivity growth and ability to adapt to climate change." "The obsession with industrial agribusiness is even more obscene given that evidence and research clearly suggest that smaller farms lead to higher yields", said Prerna Bomzan, SAAPE's EU representative. "The recent European Parliament's resolution on the soaring food prices was very encouraging as it strongly called on the Council and the Commission to promote sustainable food production and fair international trade. In particular, the call for readjustment of the very foundation of the EU development assistance, the Country Strategy Papers, in order to prioritise agriculture is significant", she added. Sources: |
