Vatican official warns of increasing food insecurity

Published: 2008-12-01

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A Vatican representative warned of increasing food insecurity in the world and called for a greater global commitment to long-term agricultural improvement. Msgr. Renato Volante made the remarks in an address Nov. 27 to the 35th special session of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome. The FAO was discussing reform of its own structures to better respond to food crises around the globe. Msgr. Volante said the FAO should underline the essential importance of agriculture in development, and not merely promote short-term management of food resources. "Too often strategies are adopted which pursue particular goals rather then a holistic vision which ranks the human needs first. Such an attitude produces negative effects in the rural sector, especially where poverty, underdevelopment, malnutrition and environmental degradation are more evident," he said.

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