WE CAN WORK WITH THE RIO+20 OUTCOME - Interview with Hans R. Herren. 

Q: The final declaration of the Rio+20 conference has drawn a lot of criticism from the media and from NGOs around the world. It is widely seen as a toothless document that does not really address the world’s problems and allows big business to continue to exploit the planet. Biovision’s media releases from Rio have been much more positive – how come?

A: Of course it would have been better if the declaration had been more specific with regard to setting goals now, time frames in which they should be achieved and appointing international bodies to oversee and, if necessary, enforce these processes. But the decision to establish an inclusive and transparent intergovernmental process on sustainable development goals by the end of 2013 goes some way in that direction and will help to move us beyond the Millennium Development Goals and guide the Green Economy into a true three dimensional approach involving the environment, society and the economy. This also has relevance for agriculture.

But it is also true that with regard to the overexploitation of marine and forest ecosystems the declaration reflects an irresponsible and ignorant attitude. However, in the current world economic climate that was never going to happen. No one was prepared to bear more costs or agree to measures that might restrict growth.

Interview with Hans Rudolf Herren, Media Release 28 June 2012

 

RIO+20 DECLARATION A MILESTONE FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE. The declaration on a global sustainable development adopted today by Heads of State and governments sees sustainable agriculture and food chains as a key element for the fight against hunger in our world and for keeping our planet habitable for future generations. For Biovision foundation, this is an important milestone for its commitment to ecological agriculture and support for smallholder farming structures. Biovision Media Release, 22 June 2012.

 

The Future We Want - Outcome Document

 

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s vision: Zero Hunger Challenge, Rio de Janeiro, 22 June 2012: "Food and nutrition are among my top priorities. In a world of plenty, no-one -- not a single person -- should go hungry. When I was a child in war-time Korea, many families faced starvation and shortages. Many countries, including my own, took bold steps to end hunger. But almost one billion people still do not have enough to eat. I want to see an end to hunger everywhere, within my lifetime. I invite all of you to join me in working for a future without hunger." Video Ban Ki-moon... / Text PDF

 

Rio+20 seen as an important step in the right direction for sustainable agriculture. The declaration of the Rio+20 conference due to be endorsed by Heads of State and Governments over the next two days marks an important step in developing a sustainable agriculture that can feed the world without destroying the planet.This was the consensus among major players in the global food chain who sat down together for a sustainable dinner to discuss agriculture and food systems at a side-event to the UN conference on sustainable development. At the invitation of Swiss Federal President Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, the guests were not only treated to locally grown delicatessen prepared by American celebrity chef Domenica Catelli, but also to insights as to why global agricultural policy needs to be transformed.Biovision Media Release 20 June 2012 (PDF) / Images...


Blog "Taste of Change"...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Media Release 19 June 2012: Biovision demands for Rio+20 on home straight

 

www.globalagriculture.org, More about the project... 

The multi-faceted presence of Biovision at Rio is being supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) as part of its world food programme. We should like to thank SDC for supporting us so generously with this important campaign: Food for all, naturally!

 

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