Private sector must help tackle hunger

Chief executive of Swiss conglomerate Nestle, echoed Diouf's calls, saying industry -has to be a part of the solution.

The private sector should help in the fight against famine and hunger as governments cannot tackle the problem by themselves, the head of the UN's food agency said on Thursday.

- We also need to have the private sector on board - Jacques Diouf, director general of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) told food industry executives at a conference in Milan, northern Italy.

- It is very important for us not to only look at problems from the point of view of governments - he added.

Diouf said big business should be - a key partner to confront such problems, not only in terms of investment but also in know-how and expertise. -

The senior UN diplomat explained fighting famine is in the food industry's interest.

- Eradicating hunger presents huge opportunities for businesses. Imagine the size of the market if the one billion people (who are starving worldwide) became consumers with real purchasing power - Diouf told delegates.

His comments come ahead of next week's FAO World Summit on Food Security, taking place from November 16 to 18 in Rome.

Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, chief executive of Swiss conglomerate Nestle, echoed Diouf's calls, saying industry -has to be a part of the solution. -

- Having this pre-summit so the private sector can give its input is a very positive development - he added.