Innovations in policy reform

1. 生態議題論述 2011 April Innovations in policy reform 鄭先祐 (Ayo) 國立臺南大學 生態科學與技術學系 教授 Ayo NUTN Web: http://myweb.nutn.edu.tw/~hycheng/ 生態議題論述 2011

2. Five parts • Innovations in understanding complex systems • Innovations in evaluating agricultural development projects • Innovations in institutions to support people and the planet • Innovations in governance • Innovations in policy reform 生態議題論述 2011

3. Policy Reform • Eradicating hunger, to improve emergency food assistance, financial markets and market linkages • Small-scale producers • Role of women, • Infrastructure • Safety nets • Local markets 生態議題論述 2011

4. CFA • Leaders are taking important steps to improve the global food system at a time when change is greatly needed. • In 2008 a high-level task force came out with the Comprehensive Framework for Action (CFA), which represents a general road map for governments to engage in food and agricultural policy reform. • UN World Food Summit in 2009 (using the CFA as a guideline for content) • The World Bank launched the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program. 生態議題論述 2011

5. Poverty • Despite all these positive steps, a major concern still is that a large chunk of investment is being earmarked to increase global supply to expand the role of agribusiness to guiding new markets, and to expand trade. • The UN statement in 1999 on the right to food maintains that “the roots of the problem of hunger and malnutrition are not lack of food but lack of access to available food, inter alia(尤其) because of poverty, by large segments of the population.” 生態議題論述 2011

6. Hunger increased • Daryll Ray from the Agricultural Policy Analysis Center at her University of Tennessee reported jn early 2010 that increasing production does not correlate with reducing hunger. • From 1980 to 2009, the production increased for a total of some 67% for 15 crops. • Meanwhile hunger also increased and countries’ food self sufficiency declined in that same period. • Global markets have a crucial role to play in contributing to food security. 生態議題論述 2011

7. 2008 price crisis • But markets are not self-correcting, and they need certain controls so as to reduce their potential to do harm. • During the 2008 price crisis, countries lacking productive capacity and lacked the proper controls to curb speculation and price volatility, leading to the huge spike in the number of hungry people. 生態議題論述 2011

8. Special Safeguard Mechanisms • Since 2003, developing countries – including African nations – has sought protection through Special Safeguard Mechanisms such as higher tariffs that would block food imports being able to flood their domestic markets. • They have also tried to exempt certain foods from tariff reductions through a list of Special Products. 生態議題論述 2011

9. 案例： Cameroon (喀麥隆) • Poultry imports increased in Cameroon by 300% between 1999 and 2004. • 92% of domestic poultry left the sector as they were unable to make a living with the cheap flood of bird into the country. • Cameroon reduced its import tariffs to less than 25%. • When Cameroon raised its tariffs to 43% in 2004 and restricted a certain number of imports, the local poultry industry saw some improvement. 生態議題論述 2011

10. ending Market manipulation • Given excessive speculation in 2008 and predictions that prices will continue to rise as much as 40% in the next decade, governments should be thinking about markets differently. • In June 2010, President Obama signed the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. • The legislation is an important step to ending market manipulation. 生態議題論述 2011

11. Governments can support • Investing in production and infrastructure for food reserves at varying levels. • small-scale farmers should be given priority in reserves programs. • Warehouse and warehouse receipting programs are being set up in Africa with support from the World Food Programme, the East Africa Grain Council (EAGC), and the US Agency for International Development. 生態議題論述 2011

12. Land grabs (土地掠奪) • Large investment deals to outsource food and fuel, sometimes referred to as “land grabs”, are occurring without proper regulations and processes in place to protect people’s rights and the environment. 生態議題論述 2011

13. Developing countries • Developing countries need the kind of investments that would help them move away from their dependence on export-led growth and international markets for overall food supply and instead toward the priorities of small-scale producers and sounder food security policies in line with the right to food. • In 2009 FAO released a guide to conducting a “right to food” assessment. 生態議題論述 2011

14. UN Special Rapporteur • Reference to the right to food already exists in 24 constitutions as well as in different national policies, food security institutions and courts. • The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food has reviewed right-to-food initiatives under way in Brazil, India, Mozambique, Nepal, and South Africa, among others. 生態議題論述 2011

15. Zero Hunger Strategy • Ecuador passed a framework law in 2009 to implement its commitment to the right to food, which includes provisions to give small-scale farmers access to capital and resource, public participation in decision making processes, and protection for indigenous people, among others. • Brazil’s Fome Zero (Zero Hunger Strategy) supports the right to food through emergency assistance, increased access and supply to basic food, and income generation. (free meals to schoolchildren) 生態議題論述 2011

16. 問題與討論 Ayo NUTN website: http://myweb.nutn.edu.tw/~hycheng/