Higgins: Hunger crises created by inequality

President Michael D Higgins has said that hunger crises around the world are created and sustained by gross inequalities.

At the opening of a two-day conference in Dublin Castle on tackling the issue, Mr Higgins called on governments to urgently address the lack of regulation of transnational land acquisition, transfer of water rights, and speculation on food commodities.

“Global hunger in the 21st century represents the grossest of human rights violations, and the greatest ethical challenge facing the global community,” he said.

“The source of this hunger is not a lack of food, but the moral affront of poverty, created and sustained by gross inequalities across the world.”

Mr Higgins opened the Hunger, Nutrition, and Climate Justice conference, co-hosted by the Government and the Mary Robinson Foundation, in front of more than 350 delegates from 60 countries.

Mr Higgins said he wants to see international regulation of transnational land acquisitions and water rights.

“What is required is a robust regulatory framework which protects our fragile and threatened environment and which respects the right of small landholders to remain on their land and retain access to water source.

“Such regulation needs to be developed collaboratively and transparently, involving practitioners from developing countries, such as those here today, and which is respectful of, and responsive to, their lived experiences.”

He cited the experience of some African and sub-Saharan nations where land deals have risen from 15m-20m hectares in 2009 to over 70m in 2012.

He also raised questions about five companies controlling 90% of the world’s grain trade and three companies controlling 85% of the world’s tea market.

Mary Robinson and the former US vice-president Al Gore are among several high-profile figures who will address the conference.

Delegates are expected to examine how farmers’ traditional skills and science can be combined to fight hunger, improve nutrition and adapt to more unpredictable weather.

About 100 farmers and people from vulnerable communities in Africa, Asia, and Central America will attend the conference to give their experiences of hunger and climate change.