Friday, July 4, 2008

Andy Eubank

Lugar`s suggestions were meant to serve as a US agenda for the G8 summit next week. Speaking before the American Enterprise Institute Wednesday the Senator expanded on his memo, including his call for more research on genetically modified seeds.

"An irrational opposition to gm crops and food by many European nations is literally starving people in Africa and other parts of the world. G-M seeds have been demonstrated to dramatically increase yields and hold great promise to reduce poverty. Yet some nations with chronic food insecurity have turned away emergency food assistance because it might contain gm foodstuffs. Others have refused to cultivate gm crops for fear and not being able to export to Europe."

Lugar said the G8 Summit needs to address the numerous regulations and labeling requirements placed on genetically modified crops and food, and instead, let consumers and the international marketplace decide the issue. He also wants to see promotion of policies that stabilize energy markets and promote alternative fuel sources.

"The link between oil prices and global food inflation is clear. Rising energy prices affect food prices all along the food to market chain. Mediating the effect of energy on food will require aggressive energy policies to boost alternative supplies and increase efficiency. In the near term major progress can be made in accelerating advanced biofuel derived from agriculture, forest and municipal waste. Energy security and food security need not be a zero-sum game."


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