FAO conference vows to fight hunger

(ANSA) - Rome, November 19 - Officials from more than 170 countries agreed Wednesday on the need to eradicate malnutrition around the world during a conference at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
    They say their commitments during the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) supporting the Rome Declaration on Nutrition will help to ensure the world's population access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food.
    Participants heard that although hunger worldwide has fallen by 21% since 1990-92, more than 800 million people in the world still go hungry.
    Undernutrition is linked to almost half of all child deaths under five years of age, some 2.8 million per year. "We have the knowledge, expertise and resources needed to overcome all forms of malnutrition," FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva said in a statement.
    "Governments must lead the way," he added.
    "But the push to improve global nutrition must be a joint effort, involving civil society organizations and the private sector". United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a video address called on participants to "redouble our efforts".
    WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan, said the world's food systems provide ample supplies but creates problems for public health.
    "Part of the world has too little to eat, leaving millions vulnerable to death or disease caused by nutrient deficiencies," she said.
    "Another part overeats, with widespread obesity pushing life-expectancy figures backwards and pushing the costs of health care to astronomical heights".
    Participants agreed to achieve results by 2025, working towards sustainable food systems.