Gates Foundation calls for food focus
16 October 2009
Bill Gates, founder of
Microsoft and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,
has urged for a greater focus on food security.
The philanthropist has argued that steps need to be taken to
help the world’s poorest farmers boost their yields to not only
help themselves out of poverty but also out of hunger.
Mr Gates made the call while speaking at the World Food Prize in
Des Moines, Iowa. At the same time he announced nine new grants
totaling $120 million (£73.6 million) to support small farmers.
"Melinda and I believe that helping the poorest small-holder
farmers grow more crops and get them to market is the world's
single most powerful lever for reducing hunger and poverty," he
said.
He added that small-holder famers should guide the next ''Green
Revolution'', putting the focus on sustainability and the
environment rather than the over-use of fertilisers or other
systems that can harm the natural environment.
However, there is a need for both productivity and
sustainability, he argued.
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