Comments on: Momentum on the Hill for Global Food Security http://www.one.org/blog/2009/03/30/momentum-on-the-hill-for-global-food-security/ Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:41:39 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Thomas R. Gentry Sr. http://www.one.org/blog/2009/03/30/momentum-on-the-hill-for-global-food-security/#comment-562544 Thomas R. Gentry Sr. Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:24:04 +0000 http://www.one.org/blog/?p=4475#comment-562544 Any public money given for research should not enable the corp. to make income from patens. Any public money given for research should not enable the corp. to make income from patens.

]]> By: Ellen Levinson http://www.one.org/blog/2009/03/30/momentum-on-the-hill-for-global-food-security/#comment-558872 Ellen Levinson Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:19:25 +0000 http://www.one.org/blog/?p=4475#comment-558872 Today, the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations will vote on the Global Food Security Act of 2009, described in Beth Adler's note of March 30th. The Alliance for Global Food Security, a group of 14 non-governmental organizations that are committed to addressing hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity and that operate programs in approximately 100 developing countries, is glad to see this legislation. We submitted testmony for the record of that hearing, which can be found at www.globalfoodsecurity.info. The Alliance supports creating food security as one of the key themes of U.S. international assistance and seeks adequate resources for food security programs and the adoption of government policies that support multi-facted programs that address the underlying causes of hunger. Thus, the Alliance is most grateful for the leadership of Senators Lugar and Casey in developing this bill. Among other things, this bill will authorizes higher funding for agriculture, rural development and nutrition programs and emphasizes the importance of investment in agriculture research, improved technologies and strengthening institutes of higher learning in developing countries. We urge congressional action, but believe several improvements are needed to cover current gaps in U.S. food security programming, particularly to ensure the engagement of the poor communities where the need is greatest. For example, due to the way the U.S. Government provides funds for overseas agriculture programs, little is focused on improving the living conditions, productivity and livelihoods of small farmers, pastoralists and the rural poor. To address those needs, community-based, integrated food security programs are needed. However, U.S. agricultural development assistance funds are rarely available for NGOs that directly work with and mobilize chronically poor, rural households and communities on such things as the adoption of appropriate technologies; improving agricultural productivity; strengthening farmer organizations, agricultural enterprises and cooperatives; linking smallholder farmers to markets, inputs and financial services; improving rural infrastructure and natural resource management; and strengthening institutions to support the needy and to improve nutrition of vulnerable groups. Thus, while we all need to seek shigher levels of funding, administrative issues are important to address in order to make sure sufficient assistance reaches and benefits the neediest. --Ellen Levinson Today, the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations will vote on the Global Food Security Act of 2009, described in Beth Adler’s note of March 30th. The Alliance for Global Food Security, a group of 14 non-governmental organizations that are committed to addressing hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity and that operate programs in approximately 100 developing countries, is glad to see this legislation. We submitted testmony for the record of that hearing, which can be found at http://www.globalfoodsecurity.info.

The Alliance supports creating food security as one of the key themes of U.S. international assistance and seeks adequate resources for food security programs and the adoption of government policies that support multi-facted programs that address the underlying causes of hunger. Thus, the Alliance is most grateful for the leadership of Senators Lugar and Casey in developing this bill.

Among other things, this bill will authorizes higher funding for agriculture, rural development and nutrition programs and emphasizes the importance of investment in agriculture research, improved technologies and strengthening institutes of higher learning in developing countries. We urge congressional action, but believe several improvements are needed to cover current gaps in U.S. food security programming, particularly to ensure the engagement of the poor communities where the need is greatest.

For example, due to the way the U.S. Government provides funds for overseas agriculture programs, little is focused on improving the living conditions, productivity and livelihoods of small farmers, pastoralists and the rural poor. To address those needs, community-based, integrated food security programs are needed. However, U.S. agricultural development assistance funds are rarely available for NGOs that directly work with and mobilize chronically poor, rural households and communities on such things as the adoption of appropriate technologies; improving agricultural productivity; strengthening farmer organizations, agricultural enterprises and cooperatives; linking smallholder farmers to markets, inputs and financial services; improving rural infrastructure and natural resource management; and strengthening institutions to support the needy and to improve nutrition of vulnerable groups.

Thus, while we all need to seek shigher levels of funding, administrative issues are important to address in order to make sure sufficient assistance reaches and benefits the neediest.

–Ellen Levinson

]]> By: Debra Goldenberg http://www.one.org/blog/2009/03/30/momentum-on-the-hill-for-global-food-security/#comment-558761 Debra Goldenberg Tue, 31 Mar 2009 04:24:08 +0000 http://www.one.org/blog/?p=4475#comment-558761 It's really encouraging to hear how this legislation will meet agricultural needs head-on, and supply just the right resources to promote rural development the most. This is precisely the basic agricultural aid that Sachs has called for to lift poor nations out of the "poverty trap" for good. Let's make sure this bill goes forward! It’s really encouraging to hear how this legislation will meet agricultural needs head-on, and supply just the right resources to promote rural development the most. This is precisely the basic agricultural aid that Sachs has called for to lift poor nations out of the “poverty trap” for good. Let’s make sure this bill goes forward!

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