A World Food Reserve

MAC/WFY

Page-38

0230_553559_09_cha05

194570. Early Attempts: FAO's Pioneering Work

The idea of a world food reserve was revived in 195455 when the UN General

Assembly requested the UN secretary-general to invite FAO to prepare

a factual and comprehensive report on what has been done and is being done
[regarding]: (a) the feasibility of establishing a world food reserve within the
framework of the United Nations, [and] (b) the feasibility of such a reserve
acting as an institution which could contribute to relieve emergency situations
and to counteract excessive price fluctuations.

In making its request, the UN General Assembly resolution noted that `no
factual report has been made dealing comprehensively with `[these subjects]' and
expressed `its appreciation of the valuable work being done in these fields by the
Food and Agriculture Organization'.

The resolution referred to the need for national and international action to meet

four main objectives:

· raise low levels of food production and consumption and fight chronic

malnutrition;

· relieve famine and other emergency situations;
· counteract excessive price fluctuations; and
· promote the rational disposal of intermittent agricultural surpluses.

The resolution was prompted by a proposal, presented by the Government of

Costa Rica, which called for `the establishment of an organ capable of fulfilling
all the functions of a "World Food Reserve" '.

In introducing these proposals,

reference was made to the proposal for a WFB, and to the activities of the CCP
and other FAO organs. While commending the efforts made, the Government
of Costa Rica concluded that, in view of the serious food distribution problems
that still remained, the establishment of a WFR called for renewed consideration
`at the highest international level'. The Costa Rican proposal did not give any
details regarding the structure, method of operation, or international character of
the proposed WFR, preferring that these matters should be determined by the UN
General Assembly.

In the ensuing debate, while different views were expressed on methods, there

was widespread agreement on the objectives of a WFR listed by Costa Rica, and
on the need for their continued promotion through national and international
action. Discussion ranged over a wide front, touching on the need for improved
food supply and better nutritional standards, the harmful effect of excessive price
fluctuation, the importance of famine prevention, and the nature and functions of
food reserves. The functions of the proposed WFR were remarkably close to those
of the proposed WFB that was not approved. A similar proposal was made in a
bipartisan draft resolution placed before the US Senate in March 1955.

This called

on the US president to promote, through the UN and other appropriate interna-
tional channels, negotiations on the establishment of a `World Food Bank' which,
by issuing loans of foods and fibres, could help promote a series of objectives
similar to those of the WFB proposal.

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Useful links	A World Food Reserve MAC/WFY Page-38 0230_553559_09_cha05 38 194570. Early Attempts: FAO's Pioneering Work The idea of a world food reserve was revived in 195455 when the UN General Assembly requested the UN secretary-general to invite FAO to prepare a factual and comprehensive report on what has been done and is being done [regarding]: (a) the feasibility of establishing a world food reserve within the framework of the United Nations, [and] (b) the feasibility of such a reserve acting as an institution which could contribute to relieve emergency situations and to counteract excessive price fluctuations. In making its request, the UN General Assembly resolution noted that `no factual report has been made dealing comprehensively with `[these subjects]' and expressed `its appreciation of the valuable work being done in these fields by the Food and Agriculture Organization'. The resolution referred to the need for national and international action to meet four main objectives: · raise low levels of food production and consumption and fight chronic malnutrition; · relieve famine and other emergency situations; · counteract excessive price fluctuations; and · promote the rational disposal of intermittent agricultural surpluses. The resolution was prompted by a proposal, presented by the Government of Costa Rica, which called for `the establishment of an organ capable of fulfilling all the functions of a "World Food Reserve" '. 8 In introducing these proposals, reference was made to the proposal for a WFB, and to the activities of the CCP and other FAO organs. While commending the efforts made, the Government of Costa Rica concluded that, in view of the serious food distribution problems that still remained, the establishment of a WFR called for renewed consideration `at the highest international level'. The Costa Rican proposal did not give any details regarding the structure, method of operation, or international character of the proposed WFR, preferring that these matters should be determined by the UN General Assembly. In the ensuing debate, while different views were expressed on methods, there was widespread agreement on the objectives of a WFR listed by Costa Rica, and on the need for their continued promotion through national and international action. Discussion ranged over a wide front, touching on the need for improved food supply and better nutritional standards, the harmful effect of excessive price fluctuation, the importance of famine prevention, and the nature and functions of food reserves. The functions of the proposed WFR were remarkably close to those of the proposed WFB that was not approved. A similar proposal was made in a bipartisan draft resolution placed before the US Senate in March 1955. 9 This called on the US president to promote, through the UN and other appropriate interna- tional channels, negotiations on the establishment of a `World Food Bank' which, by issuing loans of foods and fibres, could help promote a series of objectives similar to those of the WFB proposal. back to top Next page
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