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Subscribe to RSSNBC's Rohit Kachroo visited an irrigation project in Turkana, Kenya, where famine has taken the lives of thousands, and witnessed how it changed the lives of many. Meanwhile, President Barack Obama has announced a plan to boost farm productivity in Africa and alleviate hunger worldwide.
A group of U.S. seed, chemical and equipment companies will invest at least $150 million over the next few years into African agricultural projects and products, the companies said on Friday.
The investments pledged by DuPont, Monsanto, Cargill and others are part of an overall $3 billion effort by companies around the world announced by President Barack Obama.
Along with companies from India, Israel, Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom, and 20 companies from Africa, the corporations have committed some $3 billion for projects to help farmers in the developing world build local markets and improve productivity.
The United Nations has said that by 2030, the world will need at least 50 percent more food, 45 percent more energy and 30 percent more water. Absent these resources, it said, up to 3 billion people would probably be condemned into poverty.
Capitalizing on food demand in Africa also holds strong profit potential, corporate leaders said.
"It has been a bit chaotic. There are all sorts of issues around the countries in Africa. But the population, the economic growth, the quality of many of the soils is there," DuPont Executive Vice President Jim Borel told Reuters in an interview. "The need is there, the potential is there."
USAID's Rajiv Shah explains how 45 businesses will invest in reforming agriculture at the grassroots level to help alleviate hunger in Africa.
"We're convinced we can take the base we have now, and accelerate that progress," said Borel, who oversees DuPont's food and nutrition businesses. Among DuPont's units is its Pioneer Hi-Bred International seed company, which has operated in Africa for decades.
India and China are more stable and growing faster, but Africa is "not far behind," according to Borel.
The push by global corporations to spend more money and develop new markets across Africa comes as an expanding world population and growing demand for quality food threaten to exceed existing limits of agricultural production.
Investors have been buying up farmland in Africa, hoping to make it more productive using modern agricultural technologies. That, combined with the rising interest of international agricultural corporations, has brought criticism.
Advocates for African farmers fear they will lose control over their food supply and markets. They say African farmers are being displaced and unsustainable farm practices are being introduced.
"The problem is all this is based on large-scale commercial agriculture," said Anuradha Mittal, executive director of the Oakland Institute, a policy think tank. "Who does it benefit? All of these things are supporting the formation of large-scale commercial agriculture, which will hurt small farmers. They could spend far less but focus on providing credit facilities, ensuring open markets and ensuring the rights of small holder farmers."
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"Advocates for African farmers fear they will lose control over their food supply and markets. They say African farmers are being displaced and unsustainable farm practices are being introduced."
"The problem is all this is based on large-scale commercial agriculture," said Anuradha Mittal, executive director of the Oakland Institute, a policy think tank. "Who does it benefit?
Absolutely correct but who's feeding you now--your country is a mess of violence, poverty, birth explosions, poor living conditions and is only getting worse--who is giving you money now? You have not been able to sustain your own, but you're worried about the small farmers--seems like your thinking with a small brain..
Sounds interesting. Big business gets bigger. Africans provide the labor but will they share in the profits. Sounds kind of like making African slaves in their own Country. We will see.
What Obama means is that he will give millions to these corporations (Our tax dollars) who will then take over the crop production in these empoverished areas and replace it with Genetically Modified Roundup Ready seeds. They will be able to grown corn and turn it into ethenol. The poverty question will be solved, since, the population will die of malnutrition from eating these Frankenfoods. Obama will get a big fat campaign contribution. I wonder if Michelle uses GMO seeds in her White House garden.
You got a problem with that!!!??? It's working well in Mississippi is it not? Try to find a soybean seed in any of the feed and supply places in the state that is NOT ready for Roundup....even in Oxford, home to Ole Miss.
What Obama means is that he will give these corporations tax payer millions, not these nations. They will then plant their Genetically Modified-Round Up Ready seeds, especially corn to turn into ethanol. The lack of nutrients in these Frankenfoods will fix the poverty problem and Obama will get a big fat campaign donation. I wonder if Michelle planted GMO seeds in her White House garden?
You all miss the whole problem. More food, will only make the situation WORSE. They will increasetheir population by 400%. They are Malignant Breeders. they have as much environmental sense as my dogs and cat. I took my dogs and cat to the vet to get sterilized,. This is what we need to do with every family with two kids. We need to pay others to not have any kids.
I can hardly believe how Stupid people are, thinking that making more food is going to solve anything. I guess that is why Jesus called his followers Sheep. Do you know how dumb sheep are???
While I do not agree with what is being considered, let me open the door for you a little. I have been to Africa many times doing evangelism, training preachers and church leaders, so I am speaking with first hand knowledge. In 98 when I made my first trip the mortality age was between 35 and 40 since then it has came up some but this is the reason they have so many children, most children born will die before they get very old and those that made it could only expect to live only a short life. So they have lots of children just so that some will make it.
Jesus referred to his followers as sheep because sheep are meek by nature and can be led. Goats you have to drive but sheep are led. Sheep will only listen to the shepherds voice as they are called out of the pen. If one studies how sheep react to a shepherd one will find that several flock of sheep can be in the same pen and yet they will only respond to the voice of their own shepherd as they are called out of the pen.
Yes sheep can be considerd dumb, but that was not Jesus purpose for calling those that follow only his voice sheep.
Monsanto would be the last company I would want "helping-out...."
Once again . . . No good deed goes unpunished.
Thanks for the President Obama's investment which is going to save people there. Hope that the other company can follow suit to build the water facilities, e.g. clean water system, reservior, channels . . . And it can stir up the economy.
Folks I'm not completely against foreign aid, but how about U.S. agriculture companies helping U.S. people? We have folks hungry right here.
Feed the poor Africans and you will get a population explodsion. That is what the libs want ? ..... Right ! More people using up the resources of Mother Earth. A fine example of libtard logic.
I've seen worse logic. Purge. I do hope your not suggesting something so draconian or a form of darwinism good sir.
William Paine , no such suggestion by me but may be desired by those who love Mother Earth more than human life.
Look at how the Cargill's and Monsanto has "helped" Brazil and what it has done to the small farmer in America. Bend over and pass the lube this time. I see good things-for them anyway.
Bend over and pass the lube is something else we're supposed to think is normal
Feeding these unevolved people simply means more starving children later.We need to use money to pay for such things as africans living here who have 33 children
A total waste of money just like every other effort to help Africa. Aid simply goes into the pockets of worthless dictators and their pals. Africans in general have done little to help themselves. This is nothing but a "feel good" effort led by Obama to make it look like he really cares about his ancestors.
This is the worst possible news for Africa. Monsanto is pledging to bring their GMO corn to that continent as well as other Genetically Modified Organisms. These foods are toxic and have pesticides and other chemicals infused within their changed DNA. We need to Stop Monsanto and Stop GMO! Find out about GMOs and put an end to this crime against nature.
It's not news, merely a continuation of what is already happening. Products that are past their expiration date or don't pass quality inspection are routinely shipped to African countries and sold there. African countries are the number one dumping place for electronical waste from all over the world, Dutch flower farms are permitted to cut off water supplies to the population to water their tulips! while cattle dies of thirst and people have to move to other locations to survive, and the list goes on and on. The days of colonialism are over, so they found this way of doing the same. Shame on all of those who participate. And before anyone screams - I lived in West Africa for over 5 years and do know what I am talking about, and no, I am not black.
ONE SUGGESTION! It's great we find new sources of oil, gas, coal, It's great we make food production more local, more efficient, more productive. It's great we find new treatment and medication for illnesses and diseases. NONE OF THIS WILL EVER WORK UNITL we stop reproducing at the rate we are. The biggest wall against education about pregnancy, children, and family AND birth control ARE organized religions. In my case, in my ancestry, in my culture, the enemy is the Roman Catholic Church. They are not the only ones, though. Not everyone is made to be a parent and there are way too many children living in poverty, in the US, in the west, in Africa, everywhere. Too many socailly transmitted diseases too, including AIDS, which is devastating in Africa. So, nice, BUT change thinking, change culture thu education and accessiblity. Push aside the ignorance and backwardness of organized religion and repressive cultures.
If Obama backs it, it has to be bad for the people.
I'm happy to see the number of comments of republicans vs democrats was limited to only 1 comment - This is not what it's about. I'm also happy to see that most of the people who commented here saw thru the bullsh*t. I had only to read the first 2 paragraphs before the tears began to swell in my eyes. Only to read later on in the article exactly what I was thinking "Capitalizing on food demand in Africa also holds strong profit potential, corporate leaders said." - Greedy bastards capitalizing on something so natural and a necessity for life.
It said in the documentary "The Obama Deception" that during the Obama administration the US will take over Africa - I guess this is how it going to be done. I'm so upset I don't want to add any more to my comment except - the problems will never be solved: overpopulation, US policy, corporations, GE foods - I can't take much more!
Genetically Modified Seeds are patented and owned by these companies. They require special pesticides to be used in conjunction with them. They are 25 percent less nutritional than organic and natural seeds. They also will infect clean seeds and allow companies like Monsanto to sue any farmers field that is not using them if their fields have been infected. Farmers in Canada and America have lost their farms due to lawsuits by Monsanto. Obama is not doing the African people any favors by unleashing these companies on them.
Until the African people limit their birth rate growth they will continue to be unable to move forward. Until they capitalize on organic farming and come together as a collective with representation they will continue to struggle for survival. Until Africans refuse to follow murderous butchers calling themselves leaders they will continue to have instability and suffering. Until Africans stop blaming whites for all their problems and take responsibility for their own mistakes in judgement they will not move forward.
WOW, I never imagined Obama was that evil! We can now figure out who's buttering his bread! Follow the money, follow the money and it's even worse that just Big Corp, but the most evil ones on the planet! Unbelievable.
Sparrow It is even worse than what you may know. These GMO seeds are given a tumor to force them to accept the new genetic code then they are injected with a bacteria from a biological hazard waste site. Ten years a gag order was used to silence an independent study on the safety of these seeds. The government and these corporations conveniently argued during this time that it was the others responsibility to carry out these studies. Meanwhile the entire country has been infected with these seeds. Obama promised to have these GMO products labeled but that has not happened.
Finally the test results were in and it showed animal test subjects having respiratory problems small birth size offspring sickly offspring allergies and even death in some cases. There is a reason why Europe wants nothing to do with these seeds. Once the farmer uses them they can not reuse the seeds which traditionally has always been the way farmers sustained and improved their seeds and crops. They must keep buying Monsanto seeds at whatever price this company wants to charge. The Constitution clearly stated that you cannot patent life yet they are doing it and selling it as food which is considered a life form. In addition the Nano technology has caused some very disturbing health problems for individuals.
Science whether it be health agriculture or any other discipline will always become corrupted when it is driven by a profit motive. An example of this is that most US hospitals use to be non porfit and the care was good and the poor were taken care of. Now the care is substandard and bankrupting many people who have to go the hospital.
Oh, I see clearly now Agri-business and the final solution solves the world hunger problem.