Chinese Agriculture Minister Han Changfu on Thursday challenged developed countries to put more effort and investment into increasing food productivity, particularly in developing countries.
Addressing a crowd at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2011, Han emphasized food security, especially the need to feed the world’s nearly 1 billion chronically hungry people. “Food security is a common challenge for the world,” he said. “Developed countries have to put more effort and resources into improving food productivity in developing economies.”
Wu Hougang, chairman and CEO of Dalian Zhangzidao Fishery Group, who also addressed the crowd, concurred. “We need to increase investment,” he said, calling on governments to invest more in the fisheries, aquaculture and agriculture, particularly in training people.
Han said China is willing to build agriculture training centers for farmers from developing economies, such as Africa.
Other speakers agreed that, to ensure worldwide food security, partnerships are essential, pointing to the World Economic Forum’s New Vision for Agriculture initiative as an example. Led by 23 partner companies of the forum, the program works to foster collaboration to achieve sustainable agricultural growth through market-based solutions. The initiative has defined a vision that highlights agriculture’s potential as a solution to food security, environmental sustainability and economic opportunity worldwide. The initiative has catalysed five public-private partnerships worldwide, including in Vietnam and Indonesia.
