Les produits alimentaires stratégiques

Although it is wise to give thought to the productive capacity of the farming-food industry as a strategic instrument for a nation or an ideological group, it is also indispensable to give thought to the strategy that must be worked out to overcome the problem of hunger in the world. The recent international discussions that have taken place, particularly at the World Food Conference have led to a greater awareness of the policies that must be adopted to reach this goal both on the national level in developing countries and on the international level. This strategy of war on want must first of all consider those who produce the means of fighting against it, in other words the farmers. To overcome hunger one must first of all create the conditions for a satisfactory development of farming. Amongst the necessary conditions, international agreements on foodstuffs, the development of food aid from the wealthy nations, support for the organization of farmers, particularly in developing countries seem most important. These conditions cannot be assured in a climate of permanent political an ideological disagreement. Surely governments should understand that in the field of war on want only broad general collaboration will enable progress to be made towards a strategy capable of dealing with the cause.