Twenty-third conference of the FAO adopts pesticide code, food security compact.

Twenty-third Conference of the FAP adopts pesticide code, food security compact

An International Code of Conduct of the Distribution and Use of Pesticides and a World Food Security Compact were approved at the twenty-third Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) held in Rome from 9 to 28 November. Continued global aid for the rehabilitation of African agriculture was urged and FAO's programme of work and budget for 1986-1987 was approved.

The 158-nation Conference--FAO's supreme governing body--was attended by more than 110 ministers in a "world food summit". The global food situation was reviewed, and international action urged to improve the situation of developing countries, those of Africa in particular, in the areas of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and rural development.

In his closing address, FAO Director-General Edouard Saouma described the session as "a memorable event". The Conference's review of the world food situation had been, he said, "dominated by the problems of Africa". Considering Africa's desperate situation over the past two years, short term prospects seemed clearly more favourable. Still, teh basic problem remained to be resolved--the structural crisis of African agriculture.

The International Code of Conduct of the Distribution and Use of Pesticides, approved by the Conference, is the first set of international guidelines for the handling, trade and safe use of pesticides, particularly in developing countries lacking controls over their use.

The Conference unanimously approved a World Food Security Compact, which calls on all Governments, non-governmental organizations and individuals to commit themselves to the aims of world food security, namely that all peoples will have access at all times to the basic food they need. The Compact, which is not legally binding, sets out "the moral values and lines of action which should guide Governments and non-governmental organizations and individuals in attaining the commonly shared objective of improved world food security and the elimination of hunger and malnutrition", the Conference stated, urging its support by all.

In a resolution on the critical food situation in Africa, the Conference urged continued global aid for the rehabilitation of African agriculture, warning that "hunger will not disappear merely because the rains have come back".

The Conference approved a programme of work and budget for the 1986-1987 biennium, totalling $437 million, a real increase of 1.1 per cent over the previous budget. It economizes on administrative costs so as to increase further technical and economic activities, particularly in the field.

The Conference also:

--Admitted the Solomon Islands and the Cook Islands to FAO membership, bringing the total number of member nations to 158;

-- Noted the progress made in implementing the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources adopted by the preceding Conference. Almost 80 countries have so far supported the Undertaking;

--Reviewed a major FAO study on "Agricultural Price Policies", which shows that "a quiet revolution" is taking place as more developing countries adopt strong price incentives designed to stimulate greater food output; and

--Approved FAO's programme for a world census of agriculture in 1990.