European Parliament urges EU to Hoard 'food stocks'
Pastor Dale Morgan
European Parliament urges EU to Hoard 'food stocks'*
by Staff Writers
Strasbourg (AFP) May 22, 2008
The European Parliament on Thursday called on the EU to set up "food
stocks" to avert future crises.
In a non-binding resolution, euro deputies stressed that current EU
cereal stocks would last only 30 days and questioned whether European
food stocks "are at the right level, especially in view of possible crises".
They therefore called on the European Commission "to develop strategies
to set up food stocks to prevent future crises".
The parliament called for an "impact assessment of the role of retailers
in the food chain, as retail food prices have risen disproportionately
compared with the cost of living."
The MEPs called on retailers "to pass on a fair price to producers,
while at the same time providing consumers with reasonably priced food."
The resolution stressed that priority should be given to the production
of food over biofuels, which EU nations have agreed should make up 10
percent of vehicle fuels by 2020.
"Biofuel production should be linked to strong sustainability criteria,"
the MEPs agreed.
Current biofuels have been criticised for diverting land from production
of food for people and animals and for accelerating deforestation.
The 27 EU member states are seeking to define social and environmental
criteria for biofuels to help address the problem.