Vilsack to G8: U.S. committed to ag aid

Vilsack to G8: U.S. committed to ag aid    U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told members of the Group of 8 nations' Agricultural Ministerial in Treviso, Italy, on Saturday that the Obama administration remains committed to fighting global food insecurity, calling it 'both our moral obligation and a critical strategy to promoting economic development and global stability.
   'This means continuing to invest in emergency food assistance, as well as the tools needed by developing economies to develop their agricultural sectors: agricultural research, extension services, markets for both inputs and outputs, credit and risk management tools, and critical infrastructure,' Vilsack said.
   He said the investment in agricultural development helps 'lead the way to a permanent solution to food insecurity.'
   Meanwhile, Vilsack affirmed the U.S. government's commitment to providing international food aid. Over the past 10 years, the United States has supplied about 55 percent of the world's total. In 2008 and 2009, the United States will provide more than $5.5 billion to fight global hunger.
   In addition, Vilsack asked the Agricultural Ministerial to commit to a successful conclusion of the World Trade Organization's Doha Development Agenda by seeking to reduce and eliminate tariffs and other barriers, as well as market-distorting subsidies for agricultural products.
   'We strongly encourage countries to lift trade-restrictive policy measures, such as export restrictions,' he said. 'While they are designed to increase short-term food security in the countries imposing the restrictions, these policies only worsen the situation by taking food off the global market, driving prices higher, and discouraging farmers from responding to market signals.'