Event: Brabeck backs reducing food insecurity at the Private Sector
Forum in Milan
(Thomson Reuters ONE) - Corporate news announcement processed and transmitted by Hugin AS.The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A bold approach to reducing global food insecurity is vital,according to Nestlé Chairman Peter Brabeck-Letmathe. Speaking at thePrivate Sector Forum held on November 12 and 13 in Milan, MrBrabeck-Letmathe is focusing on the plight of 'reducing foodinsecurity' - emphasising that it is not just about taking measuresto produce more food, it is also about taking measures that actuallychange expectations and lead to sound long-term food security.The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), which isworking together with the Italian city of Milan and the organisers ofthe Universal Exposition on the theme 'Feeding the Planet, Energy forLife' in 2015, created the Forum to give participants an opportunityto exchange views about the challenges, risks and possible drivers ofa future food crisis, while aiming to identify concrete solutions inwhich companies can contribute. As the largest gathering organisedfor the private sector by the FAO, this earmarks a new consensusamong food officials on the need to generate ideas from this sector.The FAO estimates that the world will need until 2050 to boostagricultural investment by $83bn (nearly CHF 84bn) a year to feed agrowing population. Most of the money will come from the privatesector, from small farmers to big agribusinesses. To address this,Nestlé has announced it will invest more than $100m (around CHF 110m)over the next decade to farmers in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana - whichtogether account for 60% of the world's cocoa output - to supply 38million higher quality, disease-resistant plants to rejuvenate theirfarms and increase productivity. The Cocoa Plan, announced inOctober, aims to help address the key issues facing the cocoa farmingcommunities that Nestlé works with.At the Forum, Mr Brabeck-Letmathe stressed more needs to be done witha need for a broad strategy. He said: "Whatever the tools, there arehigh expectations for a strong leadership role from the FAO. There isalso a willingness of the private sector to be actively involved andto participate, where it actually can add value."He continued: "We have to be aware that the challenge we are facingin the years to come goes far beyond the food insecurity for the onebillion people that go hungry to bed. We therefore have to be quitebold when discussing solutions." In understanding the long-termeconomic and social challenges the world faces, Mr Brabeck-Letmatheadded that there are five major challenges to overcome long-termglobal food insecurity. He explained that the first is producing thenecessary quantities of basic calories and proteins in a sustainableway, which is also within the restrictions of water and arable land.Secondly, Mr Brabeck-Letmathe said it is necessary to generatereliable incomes for farmers, avoiding the approach with increasingsubsidies and artificially high prices. Next, he believed thatfocusing on the affordability of food for low-income consumers isnecessary. Highlighting the quality of food, including safety, isalso an important role for industry. Finally, with accessibility - insupplying food at the right time, in the right form, at the rightplace - is another important task for companies.But more importantly, Mr Brabeck-Letmathe stated that the mostimportant challenge to sustainable production of food is water. Infinding ways to overcome an unsustainable use of water in farming, hesaid: "We as a company were involved from the very beginning, and seea role for private companies with its own efforts and advice withinthe context of such a strategy."He added that the second major challenge is being able to providebetter and more stable incomes for farmers and rural workers. Asolution would include creating a role for private companies to helpfarmers have access to markets over longer distances, while alsomaintaining higher value-added products, access to finance andinputs.Nestlé has focused on these issues head on through its approach tobusiness, Creating Shared Value.The Company has committed to help farmers throughout the world,especially in developing countries, in an effort to improve theglobal food supply chain. To date, Nestle works with more than600,000 farmers providing them with technical assistance to increaseproduction, improve food quality and build rural infrastructure.Also, Nestlé is consistently developing lower-cost food products anddistribution systems so that those on lower incomes have greateraccess to iron and vitamin-fortified products.Conclusions from the Private Sector Forum will be submitted to theFAO World Summit on Food Security 2009, on November 16-18 in Rome.Related information:FAO websiteCreating Shared Value: The Cocoa PlanThe Cocoa Plan websiteCreating Shared Value: Micronutrient fortification...............Read more in News & Features and Creating Shared Value --- End of Message ---Nestlé S.A.Avenue Nestlé 55 Vevey WKN: 887208; ISIN: CH0012056047; Index: SLCI, SMI, SPI, SMIEXP;Listed: Main Market in SIX Swiss Exchange;
Datum: 12.11.2009 - 16:03 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 8318
Anzahl Zeichen: 0
contact information:
Town:
London
Kategorie:
Business News
Diese Pressemitteilung wurde bisher 345 mal aufgerufen.
Die Pressemitteilung mit dem Titel:
"Event: Brabeck backs reducing food insecurity at the Private Sector
Forum in Milan"
steht unter der journalistisch-redaktionellen Verantwortung von
Nestlé S.A. (Nachricht senden)
Beachten Sie bitte die weiteren Informationen zum Haftungsauschluß (gemäß TMG - TeleMedianGesetz) und dem Datenschutz (gemäß der DSGVO).
