A World Food Reserve

MAC/WFY

Page-57

0230_553559_09_cha05

approximately the same rate as consumption of the products was increased by
the additional buying power thus created. The Conference also endorsed the used
of surpluses for establishing food reserve stocks. It also laid stress on the import-
ance of ascertaining trends in production, consumption and trade of agricultural
commodities on a commodity-by-commodity basis, and the international effects
of national policies in food and agricultural matters.

The FAO report on the Functions of a World Food Reserve was presented to

ECOSOC in the summer of 1956 and `met with much response'. While recog-
nizing the advantages in principle of multilateral action, ECOSOC reached the
conclusion that `it is not practicable to achieve under a single organization all the
objectives set forth in General Assembly Resolution 827 (IX)', the resolution that
had initiated the FAO report.

ECOSOC called for a further special study to be

undertaken on `the feasibility and, if feasible, the manner of using food reserves
for meeting unforeseen food shortages'.

The UN General Assembly devoted `a good deal of attention' to the issue of

food reserves and to the FAO report that had been transmitted to ECOSOC at
its eleventh session in January/February 1957. The FAO director-general particip-
ated in the General Assembly's debate which culminated in a request for the UN
secretary-general, in co-operation with FAO, to carry out a study of national food
reserves to present to ECOSOC.

The study should analyze

the possibilities and desirability of promoting by way of consultations between
importing and exporting member countries, the use of surplus food stuffs in
building up national reserve to be used in accordance with internationally
agreed principles:

(a) to meet emergency situations;

(b) to prevent excessive price increases arising as a result of a failure in local

food supplies;

to economic development programs, thus facilitating the economic devel-
opment of less developed countries. (UN General Assembly resolution
1025 (XI))

Another UN General Assembly resolution (1026 (XI)) asked the UN secretary-

general `in consultation with FAO and other agencies, to explore the desirability of
setting up a working party to examine the practical possibilities of implementing
the various proposals made in the FAO report'. After consultations between the
UN secretary-general and the FAO director-general, it was agreed not to establish
a formal working group. Instead, FAO was asked to assume responsibility for
arranging informal consultations with interested organizations and prepare the
material for the report to ECOSOC. An informal meeting was convened by FAO in
Geneva in the summer of 1957 attended by representatives of the secretariats of
the UN, IBRD and the IMF. The point was made that the further FAO studies might
usefully be centred on the subject of national food reserves which `represented
the most promising field for further inquiry and practical follow-up action'.

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Useful links	A World Food Reserve MAC/WFY Page-57 0230_553559_09_cha05 A World Food Reserve 57 approximately the same rate as consumption of the products was increased by the additional buying power thus created. The Conference also endorsed the used of surpluses for establishing food reserve stocks. It also laid stress on the import- ance of ascertaining trends in production, consumption and trade of agricultural commodities on a commodity-by-commodity basis, and the international effects of national policies in food and agricultural matters. The FAO report on the Functions of a World Food Reserve was presented to ECOSOC in the summer of 1956 and `met with much response'. While recog- nizing the advantages in principle of multilateral action, ECOSOC reached the conclusion that `it is not practicable to achieve under a single organization all the objectives set forth in General Assembly Resolution 827 (IX)', the resolution that had initiated the FAO report. 26 ECOSOC called for a further special study to be undertaken on `the feasibility and, if feasible, the manner of using food reserves for meeting unforeseen food shortages'. The UN General Assembly devoted `a good deal of attention' to the issue of food reserves and to the FAO report that had been transmitted to ECOSOC at its eleventh session in January/February 1957. The FAO director-general particip- ated in the General Assembly's debate which culminated in a request for the UN secretary-general, in co-operation with FAO, to carry out a study of national food reserves to present to ECOSOC. 27 The study should analyze the possibilities and desirability of promoting by way of consultations between importing and exporting member countries, the use of surplus food stuffs in building up national reserve to be used in accordance with internationally agreed principles: (a) to meet emergency situations; (b) to prevent excessive price increases arising as a result of a failure in local food supplies; (c) to prevent excessive price increases resulting from increased demand due to economic development programs, thus facilitating the economic devel- opment of less developed countries. (UN General Assembly resolution 1025 (XI)) Another UN General Assembly resolution (1026 (XI)) asked the UN secretary- general `in consultation with FAO and other agencies, to explore the desirability of setting up a working party to examine the practical possibilities of implementing the various proposals made in the FAO report'. After consultations between the UN secretary-general and the FAO director-general, it was agreed not to establish a formal working group. Instead, FAO was asked to assume responsibility for arranging informal consultations with interested organizations and prepare the material for the report to ECOSOC. An informal meeting was convened by FAO in Geneva in the summer of 1957 attended by representatives of the secretariats of the UN, IBRD and the IMF. The point was made that the further FAO studies might usefully be centred on the subject of national food reserves which `represented the most promising field for further inquiry and practical follow-up action'. back to top Next page
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