President Bill Clinton’s Statement released the following statement on World Food Day, asserting that the economy has diverted global attention from solving hunger, and saying that "we all must do more."
New York, NY– Food is at the root of nearly all of the persistent challenges facing our modern world – from inequality and instability to the looming threat of climate change. Yet while 1 billion people are chronically hungry around the world, the global financial crisis has diverted much of our attention away from food security.
We cannot afford to turn our backs on the world food crisis. Not while farmers need fertilizer to grow their crops, support their families, and feed their communities. Not while AIDS patients are dying because they don’t have the proper nutrients to keep their immune systems strong. Not while children are eating empty, cheaper calories because it’s all their parents can afford. And these problems will only intensify if we don’t do something about global warming, which changes weather patterns, increases the frequencies and duration of droughts, and makes the way we consume food unsustainable.
We have an opportunity to solve hunger and break the cycle of poverty and global health epidemics at the same time. My Foundation works to incorporate food security into our efforts to address global challenges every day: fighting malnutrition and HIV/AIDS simultaneously in countries like India; giving young people healthier food and beverage options at schools across America; helping farmers access sustainable farming techniques that will grow their incomes and feed more people in Africa; investing in programs that improve nutrition in Latin America; and inspiring member commitments through the Clinton Global Initiative to make more than 80 Commitments to Action valued at more than $4 billion to strengthen food security around the world.
But we all must do more. I’m grateful that the U.S. government is making food security a priority. It will take a concerted effort across governments, the private sector, and NGOs to eradicate hunger and strengthen food security for a sustainable future. This is something we can solve. And because we can, we must.
To learn more about the Clinton Foundation’s work on food security, click here.