United Nations Radio

Only by considering food as a human right, and looking at agricultural development through that perspective, could the correct choices be made to design more sustainable food systems in a world facing climate change and declining natural resources.

Olivier de Schutter

That according to the UN expert on the right to food Olivier De Schutter.
He told the UN Commission on Sustainable development meeting in New York that "increasing agricultural production must go hand in hand with increasing the incomes of the poorest, particularly small-scale farmers, and switching to modes of production which do not contribute to climate change."
De Schutter says "increased investments in agriculture, particularly in Africa, are necessary, yet this must be thought out seriously."
He says "the experience gained from the crisis showed that the key question is not merely that of increasing budgets allocated to agriculture but rather, that of choosing from different models of agricultural development which may have different impacts and benefit various groups differently."
He adds that "the right to food framework can assist in guiding governments towards making the right choices" by prioritizing the needs of the most vulnerable.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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