As the United Nations World Food Summit came to a close yesterday, some delegates criticised the event for doing too little to end world hunger and put tight controls on the development of biotechnology in agriculture.

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Some 1000 organisations were represented at the World Food Summits, with 74 heads of state or government and 6,613 participants in attendance. Critics said the delegates’ pledge to reduce the number of hungry people in the world to 400m by 2015 did not go far enough, as it simply reiterated the pledge made at a similar summit as long ago as 1996 – since when the number of hungry people has not decreased.


The World Food Program urged delegates to support its school lunch program, which it says can feed 300 million children relatively cheaply. “For 19 cents a day, a child can be fed at school, accomplishing the twin goals of easing hunger and promoting education – the best way to escape poverty,” WFP chief James Morris said.


Meanwhile, environmental pressure groups expressed disappointment at the summit because it called for advancement in biotech research.

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