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Experts meet on boosting investment in agriculture


Hundreds of policymakers, development experts, and representatives from the public and private sectors will meet in the Philippines this week on how to boost investment in the Asia Pacific's agriculture sector. The event, which is organized by the Asian Development Bank, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, will take place from July 7 to 9. Participants will also discuss the region's food-security challenges. "Last year, more than 100 million people joined the ranks of the global hungry as a direct result of soaring food prices, two-thirds of whom are here in the Asia and Pacific region," said ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda in a statement Monday. "The Investment Forum for Food Security will look at existing barriers to achieve food security, and design practical mechanisms to overcome them," he added. The forum will be an important venue for sharing innovations and good practices on new approaches to sustainable and inclusive food security, according to Kanayo F. Nwanze, president of IFAD. "It will provide a unique opportunity for governments, the private sector, civil society representatives, and development partners to work together and discuss concrete investment plans for several countries of the region," he noted. Hiroyuki Konuma, FAO's assistant director-general and regional representative for Asia and the Pacific, said the forum would address three key issues: escalating food prices, concerns about future food production to meet growing demands, and overseas leases or purchases of farmlands in developing countries. "FAO calls for responsible investments in agriculture and inclusive business models that bring benefits for investors and local small farmers," Konuma said. "During and after the meeting, FAO will continue to advocate for world solidarity and new partnerships to meet the food security challenges in the region," he added. —Jesse Edep/VS, GMANews.TV

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