ROME - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "high prices of foodstuff and energy, climate changes, increasing unemployment because of the global financial crisis and rising production of bio-fuel are the basic elements which triggered the global food crisis."
Erdogan, who is currently in the Italian capital to attend the summit of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said at a news conference at the Excelsior Hotel, "there are more than 1 billion people in the world suffering from famine. Most of them live in underdeveloped or in developing countries. High prices of foodstuff and energy, climate changes, increasing unemployment because of the global financial crisis and rising production of bio-fuel are the basic elements which triggered the global food crisis. Also, sharp decline in agricultural investments makes the situation even worse."
"Turkey has always been supported the efforts made by the FAO to ensure food safety since it is one of the most important elements of a sustainable development. We continue sending humanitarian aid and extending technical assistance to underdeveloped and developing countries," he said.
Erdogan highlighted importance of supporting farmers and rural development as part of a long-term solution to the problem of famine.