John Block Reports from Washington

Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by the Renewable Fuels Association, Wal-Mart Stores, Monsanto, and John Deere. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of a healthy farm economy and prosperous rural America. Thank you.

And now for today's commentary.

Last week, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization met in Rome. The original agenda was to focus on climate change and biofuels. However, the dominant issue proved to be food production. After non-stop speeches by heads of state, including President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, one attendee had a perceptive comment -- "When did you have heads of state coming to talk about seeds and fertilizcr?"

It has taken a global food crisis to focus attention on the need to raise food production, to lower trade barriers, and to increase research in agriculture.

The food index of prices increased 24 percent last year and 53 percent so far this year. Interesting note -- that graph line of increase parallels the increase in oil prices. They go hand in hand. Another interesting note -- with that kind of an alarming increase around the world, our prices have gone up only about 5 percent.

The bottom line is that there is a very serious food problem that needs urgent attention.

Prior to the meeting, all the talk was that biofuels was the problem. We can't be making fuel out of corn. However, when the nations all came together, common sense and reason seemed to take over.

1. Even though some developing countries argued that food crops should not be used for fuel, the declaration simply urged more research on the subject.

2. The document recommended more investment in "science and technology" for food production. Ilooray! Yet, thc declaration made no mention of biotechnology. It should have. Genetically modified crops are the ansvver.

What will happen now? Well, let's hope that the countries of the world finally decide to focus on agriculture after years of neglect. The portion of foreign development assistance to Africa earmarked for agriculture fell from I5 percent in the early 80's to 4 percent last year. High grain prices should now bring more investment and production.

Until next week, I am John Block from Washington.