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Yet another dire warning about the availability of food

One has to wonder when the world will wake up. Whilst people are starving or dying from preventable diseases - think malaria and contaminated water - report after report from this or that agency or body warns that the world must do something about climate change, farming practices and the sustainability of food-supplies. It all seems to fall on deaf ears!

Now the UN has issued another warning that global farming practices pose a "recipe for disaster".

"The United Nations top official on the right to food has called for wholesale changes in farming methods to safeguard the environment and ensure everyone has enough to eat.

Olivier De Schutter, the UN special rapporteur on the right to food, said in a statement to mark World Food Day that there is currently "little to rejoice about," and "worse may still be ahead."

"As a result of climate change, the yields in certain regions of sub-Saharan Africa are expected to fall by 50 percent by 2020 in comparison to 2000 levels. And growing frequency and intensity of floods and droughts contribute to volatility in agricultural markets."

"Current agricultural developments are ... threatening the ability for our children's children to feed themselves," he said. "A fundamental shift is urgently required if we want to celebrate World Food Day next year," he added."

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