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A UN expert has urged G20 leaders to put the right to food before
industry interests when committing to a food security plan later this week at
the G-20 summit in Cannes, France, warning of the negative impacts that biofuels
and financial speculation have on this basic human right.
“The
G-20 made an important statement of intent by placing food security at the top
of its agenda. But agreeing on a food security action plan without addressing
biofuels and speculation would be like running a bath without putting in the
plug. All of the good ideas simply drain away,” said Olivier De Schutter, UN
Special Rapporteur on the right to food, in a statement.
Mr.
De Schutter called for governments to put an end to biofuel mandates and
subsidies as they are a major factor that causes food prices to rise and creates
a high demand for farmland in developing countries.
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