Conference in the NORAD, Lars Peder Brekk minister of agriculture.

The minister started by talking about the need for an increased food production,
and mentioned the importance of small farm holders especially women are the key
to success of all the endeavors towards development.

Agriculture at the centre of development agenda to meet the millennium

development goals. G8 declaration in 2009 “Multiple challenges require an
integrated response, demand for food comes from subsistence farming

Improve land in use and practice, International treaty for plant genetic should aim
at securing a better crop diversity and farmers rights.

14% of the carbon emissions come from agriculture. Norway has developed a white
paper on climate change and link production with food security, and the potential
for reduced emissions and increased carbon sequestration through targeted
measures.

There are knowledge gaps in mitigation measures and international research

cooperation, however the global research alliance which has been initiated by New
Zealand is a good initiative, and Norway is a member in it.

Climate proof measures,

Reinforce global governance in food security. The FAO represents a cornerstone in

this governance. And is currently undergoing a reform process, and establishing
partnerships with other organizations and development partners. Soon there will be
the reform of the committee for the world food security CSF to speak with one
voice in the international community.
Olivier de Schutter

There are six different types of hunger. Dr Schutter has based many of his opinions
on the Book by Amartya Sen “poverty and famines” which is a domain that should
not be limited to agronomists and economists.

He stressed on government accountability: government actions will be monitored

and controlled by public opinion and; democratic control has a role in preventing
hunger.

Who are hungry? Pastoralists, fishermen and forest dependant people represent
10%, small holders 50% (policies) Landless rural people 20% though they might be
involved in food production, an increasingly large group that needs more attention.

The last category is the urban poor who will have reached 2 billion by 2030, who do
not produce any food and are vulnerable to price fluctuations.

There is a different strategy for each group, by addressing policies that can be
reversed, and addressing hunger a s a political rather than a technical issue.
Strategies should be based on assessment of needs, adequate mapping of poverty.
Many governments do not seek to know and do not act upon the available mapping.
Strategies should be monitored independently and be a subject of public discussion,
participation of food insecurity

Fulfilling the right to food has to do with education, employment, trade and finance,
and cuts across different ministerial departments.

What is the crisis?

There are two major issues: the poverty crisis where people have low incomes, and
an ecological crisis which also includes population growth exerting pressure on
natural resources and climate change.

Farmers not being supported, impoverishment and inequalities, low paid

employment/rural flight

The green revolution has not reduced inequality , it has increased the food per
capita by 8% while people increased by 9%

How to develop modernized agriculture:

State led

Agro-ecological : low input, based on the idea of supporting farmers, producing

inputs independently from the external inputs, low costs by one time investments.
Mental blockages: policy makers do not believe in small scale farming claiming that
it is not productive and thus were never considered in significant changes.
Competitiveness being a measure of success where food is produces at low prices
is a poor criterion when it comes to whether the farmer gets a high income or his
approach is sustainable.

Sustainable methods, are also labour intensive but can achieve a better resource
management and achieves higher productivity per hectare.

Positive externalities are not rewarded

The right to food goes beyonf the connection between food security and the right of
farmers, it also involves the urban poor, and calls for a better support of the poor
through adequate social protection schemes, in other words, the right to food is
about restoring the dignity of the pople.

Next speaker (don’t remember her name)

The world back principles for responsible agro-investments

1) Respect land andf resource right

2) Ensure food security

3) Transparency and good governance

4) Participation

5) Responsible

6) Social sustainability

7) Environmental sustainability

***********

Åsbjørn on land grab

Economic globalization is an unstoppable juggernaut. Land grab is taking place in

Sub Saharan Africa, Indonesia, Philippines by UAE, China, Saudi Arabia, for bio-fuel
and food for the middleclass (with increased appetite for meat)

In Norway several laws were already in place and to prevent a similar scenario from
taking place, like the right of the tiller, prohibition of Absentee ownership, and
priority of purchase to the next of kin.
In Africa it is different, due to the colonial past, precarious rusers’ right, and the
political impotence of the poor in Africa. Development in many cases has led to
impoverishment.