Obama announces global food initiative

President Barack Obama speaks at the Symposium on Global Agriculture and Food Security at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Friday, May 18, 2012, at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington.

/ AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

(CBS News) Stressing a shared set of global imperatives, President Obama on Friday unveiled a new food initiative aimed at increasing food security in developing African nations and lifting 50 million people out of poverty over the next decade.

Mr. Obama, in remarks kicking off this weekend's G-8 summit, called on G-8 partners to reaffirm their commitments to anti-poverty measures and outlined a plan aimed at increasing investments in African agriculture, developing agricultural innovations, and reducing risks among vulnerable communities.

"The government cannot and should not do this alone. This has to be all hands on deck," Mr. Obama said of the goal to reduce global poverty.

"Reducing malnutrition and hunger around the world advances international peace and security," the president said.

The initiative, called the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, aims to build on a 2009 food security effort that resulted in $22 billion worth of pledges, and stresses the need for a shared commitment among African nations, private sector partners, and members of the G-8.

"As the wealthiest nation on earth, I believe the United States has a moral obligation to lead the fight against hunger and malnutrition," said Mr. Obama.

"We have a self-interest in this," he added. "It's a moral imperative, it's an economic imperative, and it's a security imperative."

According to Mr. Obama, about 45 private sector companies from around the world have pledged to invest more than $3 billion cumulatively to kick off the effort.

Mr. Obama outlined the initiative's goals to support innovation in the global agricultural research system, fast-track new agricultural projects, and speed up the development and delivery of innovation. It will also promote risk management to help communities avoid catastrophe in the face of instability.

"Communities can't go back just to the way things were - vulnerable as before, waiting for the next crisis to happen," Mr. Obama said. "A change in prices or a single bad season should not plunge a family, community or a region into crisis."

The administration stresses that the plan would not eliminate foreign aid but rather aim to boost its impact.

"It's not about replacing aid; it's about combining aid with private capital, tools to scale innovation and strategies for managing risk," said Mike Froman, Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economic Affairs, in a conference call on Thursday.

Mr. Obama on Thursday acknowledged the challenges ahead, but emphasized that "we are already making progress in this area."

"We can do this. We're already doing it. We just need to bring it all together," he said. "We can unleash the change that reduces hunger and malnutrition. We can spark the kind of economic growth that lifts people and nations out of poverty. This is the new commitment that we're making."

[remounts-2009]

Less population... MUCH less poverty and starvation. Of course Monsanto wouldn't get its share of the IMF funds. Oh and by the way Obammy, you might want to focus on THIS contry's poverty and any starving. Check out Pine Ridge for instance. Its close by and easier to get to. I mean there's no brothers THERE, but...

[hypnotoad72]

1. Spare the racism re: "Obammy". Good grief.

2. "Less population" - only those who say it don't get to die off, yes? (How long before 6.999999999 billion miracles all scream that in your ear?)

3. I don't mind helping people in good faith, but corporate giveaways don't help people. Not many people and hardly in good faith...

[mksaunders]

I smell large-bank and chemical-industry influence: new colonialism and new recruitment of other nations into spirit-robbing debt.

They took toxic seeds into Haiti and left them unguarded from animals and humans, in violation of UN rules. The UN also took troops in from countries more violent than Haiti, and some of those troops brought cholera.

Sometimes a nicely wrapped gift is not the beauty it pretends to be.

[VincentLawrence]

"CHARITY IS NO PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE DUTY OF GOVERNMENT" - - - - - James Madison.

Charity is a Wonderful GIFT, when it is given from the heart.

Not when it is stole from one and given by the thief, like the great Lord.

I am old enough to remember when the United States sent tons of Seeds to grow crops, what we did not send were the workers to plant and tend and harvest the crops for them.
From the tons of seeds for planting most were cooked, others rotted.

I hate to say it some people want the food put on the table for them.

[hypnotoad72]

Madison also kept slaves his entire life.

But, to be concise, others' fears that all of this is nothing more than a giveaway to ag corporation (e.g. Monsanto) aren't entirely unwarranted.

There are many facets to this issue...

[Ben37221]

Being called a food stamp president is not a bad thing. It shows that Obama cares about the lesat among us and those that lost their jobs the last few years due to republican failed policies.
On the other hand, the republicans want to drug test the least among us and those that lost their job due to GOP policies before they can get their food stamp.
The question is who among this shows a Christlike spirit?
Obama, who says I care about your dignity, or the GOP who presume the less fortunate to be a criminalS, drug addicts before they will consider giving them food stamp. If christ come today, he will be ashame of the GOP, and what they stand for.

[VincentLawrence]

When an individual or the Charitable Organization Gives it is Charity

When the Government does it, It is called SOCIALISM.................

[hypnotoad72]

VincentLawrence -

*zing*

Especially when government gives handouts and bailouts ("charity") to corporations all the time.

[Ben37221]

You republicans talk so well about religion, but live so little of it. This is an issue of faith-being your brothers keeper. This is even more of a religious issue than the out cry of the conservative Christian group and the Catholic church on contraceptive. With this, Obama is practicing the greatest commandment in the Christian faith-love your neighbor.
Will the catholic church stand up with the same energy to support this policy that emphasize the greatest commandment. As someone who was confirmed and baptised in the catholic church- this is a greater expression of my faith than the rediculous so call war on religion that some so opposed, even when it gave exception to religious body. Great job Mr. President.

[hypnotoad72]

jgg00010 -

Maybe we can stop handing it out to corporations that pocket it as 'profit' while offshoring jobs, which in turn helped create the revenue problem because less jobs = less revenue via taxation...

Ask these guys:


http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Rick_Santorum.htm#Corporations
http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/mitch_mcconnell.htm#Corporations
http://www.ontheissues.org/john_mccain.htm#Corporations
http://www.issues2000.org/senate/Judd_Gregg.htm#Corporations
http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/jim_demint.htm#Corporations
http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Orrin_Hatch.htm#Corporations

"Voted NO on repealing tax subsidy for companies which move US jobs offshore. (Mar 2005)"

While some Democrats voted 'no' to repeal (Obama voted 'yes' to repeal), note McConnell's name and then note this article:

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/04/14/158424/republican-leaders-debt-limit-hypocrisy/
(those mentioned within make interesting cases for not raising the debt ceiling now when they freely did so last decade. After all, "deficits don't matter"... http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/joe_conason/2009/03/27/deficits )

[wouldken]

He should get the money from Warren Buffet.

[wouldken]

If we quit feeding Africa eventually the population will adjust itself to a point where the land will support the people living there.

[hypnotoad72]

wouldken - Or do there what we do here: Sell off farmland and build big skyscrapers... after all, skyscrapers there would probably do better in the desert than farmland, no?

Granted, with all the ones with big "for sale" signs on them because everybody moved out or had to over time thanks to the economic devastation that the so-called "globalization" has imposed so far... (and for all the claims of those developing countries being helped, the suicide rates, complaints of worker abuse, etc, don't lead many to think it's been oh-so-wonderful after all... and while the US calls them "multinational companies", do they call themselves "American companies" overseas as they claim to represent us? Like:

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/04/13/general-motors-ceo-urged-to-address-indian-workers-complaints/

But I digress.

The whole issue is a tad complex, even convoluted, but I can't be as callous as you.

[Nookiess]

So, we have children and families starving state side. The price of food is sky high and growing more and more everyday, even for the heavily processed unhealthy foods.

But he wants to worry about other countries? LET THEM FEED THEMSELVES OR STARVE. It's not our place to focus on or worry about other countries. Especially countries that have an abundance of coal/diamonds/gold/oil and still somehow can't pull themselves out of poverty. Idiots..

[hypnotoad72]

Right now, I suspect this is a cover to continue gutting the US of jobs and opportunities. Millions are starving here and across the world, but the moment we see issues improve worldwide, including developed nations, is when I will start believing the legitimacy of any of these initiatives.

[Ben37221]

hypnotoad72 , how convenient that you republicans are waging war against the truth? Which is that it is the republican policies that resulted in the loss of millions of jobs. For those who have lost their jobs since 2007, you have the republicans to thank for that. The republican policies wrecked the economy, now you want to go back to the same policies that just destroyed millions of jobs. Shame on you.

[mabes69]

"As the wealthiest nation on earth, I believe the United States has a moral obligation to lead the fight against hunger and malnutrition," said Mr. Obama.

Could this man for once focus on our problems at home? We are already the largest aid donor in the world. Does he realize how many AMERICANS are on food stamps, or are going hungry???? DOES HE CARE???

[hypnotoad72]

Over the last couple decades or so, we've seen developing nations rise... at the expense of developed nations.

Real globalization would not be MIGRATION of jobs and opportunities that allow people to prosper, eat, et cetera.

Plenty of people, on both sides of the political aisle, seem to be questioning this latest state of affairs.

[Ben37221]

Have you held of Obamacare- which is design to provide coverage for over 30 million Americans. That is focusing on our problems at home.
Have you held of auto bail out that bailed out- as you republican use to say(no more) "government motors", I mean GM?
Have you held of financial reform? I can go on and on.
The truth shall set you free also apply to the republicans. Try telling the truth for once.

[JLConway_]

Obama sure is generous with money we don't have anymore after he blew 6 trillion bucks on squat and we have nothing to show for it.
Is the Food Stamp President going to put these African nations on Food Stamps as well?

The guy can't even take care of the poor at home yet he is supposedly going to feed the world.
Fake Messiah Barry better know how to miraculously multipy some fish and loaves of bread.

[hypnotoad72]

You act as if problems didn't exist before 2009.

Your partisanship is showing. Let's look at the WHOLE issue and debate that instead.

[kem45]

hypnotoad72 Yes it did exist before 2009 and it will continue until there is a president and congressmen in office that cares about America first. they can always help the rest of the world after America's poverty and financial situation is handled. God forbid if any one of them can think of that.

[scoulter2]

you would think Obama's plan is the worst sort of evil there is based on the comments on this page.

He's providing food aid with large support from private companies people. Try having a little perspective. It's more than just a bleeding heart idea, it will most likely create goodwill towards the US.

[scoulter2]

which part is fantasy exactly?

[hypnotoad72]

Yes.

SOME goodwill will be created.

But it won't change the minds of some countries... especially those that have already been treated to "American companies' goodwill" in the first place.

Like you said, let's all try to find some perspective. The truth is more likely going to be found somewhere approaching the middle...