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G8 pledges to boost food supplies G8 pledges to boost food supplies
(10 minutes later)
Leaders of the G8 developed nations have pledged $20bn (£12bn) for efforts to boost food supplies to the hungry, on the final day of a summit in Italy.Leaders of the G8 developed nations have pledged $20bn (£12bn) for efforts to boost food supplies to the hungry, on the final day of a summit in Italy.
The investment, which is $5bn more than had been expected, will fund a three-year initiative to help poor nations develop their own agriculture.The investment, which is $5bn more than had been expected, will fund a three-year initiative to help poor nations develop their own agriculture.
US President Barack Obama said the issue of food security was of huge importance to all nations in the world.US President Barack Obama said the issue of food security was of huge importance to all nations in the world.
Rich nations had a moral responsibility to help poorer nations, he said.Rich nations had a moral responsibility to help poorer nations, he said.
African leaders had earlier urged G8 nations to live up to past aid pledges.African leaders had earlier urged G8 nations to live up to past aid pledges.
Climate deal highlights divisions Gaddafi and Brown in first talks
BBC economics correspondent Andrew Walker says the idea is to put more emphasis on helping people feed themselves.BBC economics correspondent Andrew Walker says the idea is to put more emphasis on helping people feed themselves.
That is to be achieved with more investment in the agriculture of developing countries, and the G8 nations - Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the US - will provide significant resources, our correspondent adds.That is to be achieved with more investment in the agriculture of developing countries, and the G8 nations - Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the US - will provide significant resources, our correspondent adds.
However, although the total amount of overseas development aid (ODA) was increased in 2008, the rich countries are still behind on their target to double aid that was made at the G8 Gleneagles Summit in 2005 - and Italy is among the laggards.However, although the total amount of overseas development aid (ODA) was increased in 2008, the rich countries are still behind on their target to double aid that was made at the G8 Gleneagles Summit in 2005 - and Italy is among the laggards.
Not all the money pledged to the agriculture initiative at the summit in the Italian city of L'Aquila will be new funding.Not all the money pledged to the agriculture initiative at the summit in the Italian city of L'Aquila will be new funding.
It is time for us to switch because food security is not just food aid Kanaya NwanzeInternational Fund for Agricultural Development
Kanaya Nwanze, president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, told the BBC that he welcomed the announcement of more investment in agriculture in the developing world.Kanaya Nwanze, president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, told the BBC that he welcomed the announcement of more investment in agriculture in the developing world.
G8 KEY ISSUES/TIMETABLE 0630 GMT - impact of economic crisis on Africa, African leaders attending0830 GMT - food security1100 GMT - final news conferenceG8 members: Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, US Deal highlights divisions At a glance: summit agenda G8 set to tackle hunger in Africa Gaddafi and Brown in first talks
"It is time for us to switch because food security is not just food aid," he said."It is time for us to switch because food security is not just food aid," he said.
"It is the ability of people to produce food locally and for them to be able to have access to local markets.""It is the ability of people to produce food locally and for them to be able to have access to local markets."
The US will reportedly contribute some $3.5bn to the programme.The US will reportedly contribute some $3.5bn to the programme.
Mr Obama met representatives of Angola, Algeria, Nigeria and Senegal in L'Aquila. He will also meet Pope Benedict XVI in Rome before embarking on an African tour later on Friday.Mr Obama met representatives of Angola, Algeria, Nigeria and Senegal in L'Aquila. He will also meet Pope Benedict XVI in Rome before embarking on an African tour later on Friday.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who also attended Friday's talks in L'Aquila, told Reuters news agency beforehand that the key message from African nations was that the G8 had to live up to its commitments.Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who also attended Friday's talks in L'Aquila, told Reuters news agency beforehand that the key message from African nations was that the G8 had to live up to its commitments.
Aid organisations have criticised some members for failing to deliver on the promise made at the 2005 G8 summit to increase annual aid levels to sub-Saharan Africa by $25bn by 2010.Aid organisations have criticised some members for failing to deliver on the promise made at the 2005 G8 summit to increase annual aid levels to sub-Saharan Africa by $25bn by 2010.
Italy, the present summit host, has come under particular pressure for cutting, rather than increasing, aid this year.Italy, the present summit host, has come under particular pressure for cutting, rather than increasing, aid this year.
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said the global economic crisis and Italy's mounting debts are responsible for a delay in Rome meeting its promises.Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said the global economic crisis and Italy's mounting debts are responsible for a delay in Rome meeting its promises.
Climate challengeClimate challenge
On Thursday, when the summit focused on climate change, leaders from both developed and developing nations agreed that global temperatures should not rise more than 2C above 1900 levels.On Thursday, when the summit focused on climate change, leaders from both developed and developing nations agreed that global temperatures should not rise more than 2C above 1900 levels.
That is the level above which, the UN says, the Earth's climate system would become dangerously unstable.That is the level above which, the UN says, the Earth's climate system would become dangerously unstable.
Mr Obama said the G8 and developing nations had made important strides in dealing with climate change.Mr Obama said the G8 and developing nations had made important strides in dealing with climate change.
But the G8 failed to persuade the developing countries to accept targets of cutting emissions by 50% by 2050.But the G8 failed to persuade the developing countries to accept targets of cutting emissions by 50% by 2050.
On Wednesday, the G8 agreed its own members would work towards 80% cuts by the same date.On Wednesday, the G8 agreed its own members would work towards 80% cuts by the same date.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the G8 had not done enough and should also set 2020 targets for emissions cuts.UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the G8 had not done enough and should also set 2020 targets for emissions cuts.
BBC environment analyst Roger Harrabin says the declaration is a significant step, with all big countries - rich and poor - agreeing there is a scientific limit on the amount we can warm the climate.BBC environment analyst Roger Harrabin says the declaration is a significant step, with all big countries - rich and poor - agreeing there is a scientific limit on the amount we can warm the climate.
But there is still a huge way to go, he says, as developing nations like India will not sign up to any 2050 targets unless rich nations show more determination and offer more cash.But there is still a huge way to go, he says, as developing nations like India will not sign up to any 2050 targets unless rich nations show more determination and offer more cash.