UN warns food crisis as South Asian floods raze crops
The United Nations warned of a food crisis across northern India, Bangladesh and Nepal, after monsoon floods destroyed millions of acres of farmland. “After the floodwaters subside, millions of poor families will remain devastated from the loss of their crops, livestock and in some cases, family members,” Josette Sheeran, executive director of the UN’s World Food Program said.

Bloomberg.com, August 10, 2007

Mozambique faces food shortages left by floods
Mozambique, still recovering from crippling floods, cyclones and drought, will face severe food shortages that could affect up to 550,000 people by October, a top emergency co-ordinator said on Thursday.

Reuters, August 9, 2007

Central Asia: Crop diversity threat could affect world food security
Central Asia is home to many wild plants from which crops around the world originated. Such plants are repositories of genetic diversity in crops and, according to many, vital to ensuring future food security. A recent report, however, reveals that these species’ habitats are poorly protected.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, August 2, 2007

Cuba: ‘If worked properly, the land can produce anything’
“If you work it properly, the land here can produce anything, and with a guaranteed market. Cuba is an agricultural country. We should not have to import food,” says Rubén Torres, who has made a success of farming outside of the city of Santa Clara in central Cuba. But Cuba’s food imports grew 35 per cent over the past two years, according to government reports from last December. These figures, along with the rise in prices on the international market, prompted acting President Raúl Castro to warn that it is essential to boost agricultural production.

IPS News, August 8, 2007

Coping with crop failures, extreme poverty and HIV/AIDS
“Although the availability of food affects a country’s economy as a whole, the poorest households bear the greatest burden, as they must deplete family stocks, and sell household assets to purchase food at high prices in local markets. This threat also underlines the complex nature of food security and the necessary combination of both immediate relief and longer-term sustainable solutions.”

The Southern Africa Human-development Information Management Network, SAHIMS.NET

Food and Agriculture Association of the UN (FAO)
The FAO is a specialised agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy. FAO is a source of knowledge and information, and helps developing countries and countries in transition modernise and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices, ensuring good nutrition and food security for all. The site includes news stories, features, fact sheets, statistics, maps and multimedia resources. There is also a link to “Feeding Minds Fighting Hunger”, a global education initiative aimed at young people and teachers.

www.fao.org

Food Force
Developed by the United Nations’ World Food Programme, Food Force is a free educational video game telling the story of a hunger crisis on the fictitious island of Sheylan. Comprised of 6 mini-games or “missions”, the game takes young players from an initial crisis assessment through to delivery and distribution of food aid, with each sequential mission addressing a particular aspect of this challenging process. Together, the missions provide an overview of how food aid is used in both emergencies and long-term development projects. Therefore, it is best to play the game straight through from beginning to end, which takes about half an hour.

The game can be downloaded from www.food-force.com

“The world is like an uneven load. On one side, many people and little food. On the other side, lots of food and few people. An uneven load is dangerous. It is apt to tip over at any moment.”
Brazilian translation from National Catholic Rural Life Conference

“A table is where families gather for food, but some have little food or no table at all. A table is where leaders gather in government and international negotiations and other forums to make decisions on trade and aid, subsidies and access. But some have no real voice at these tables. For Catholics, the table is the altar at which we gather for Eucharist to transform ‘the fruit of the vine and work of human hands’ into the Body and Blood of Christ. It is also the table from which we are sent forth to secure ‘a place at the table’ for all.”

For I was Hungry & You Gave Me Food: Catholic Reflections on Food, Farmers, and Farmworkers. US Conference of Catholic Bishops

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