Quick Reads es

Ha surgido un debate sobre qué proporción del suministro mundial de alimentos proviene de la agricultura campesina y en pequeña escala, un debate que puede tener grandes implicaciones para la elaboración de políticas que respondan al hambre. Organizaciones de la sociedad civil y movimientos campesinos han calculado que alrededor del 70% del mundo es alimentado por la agricultura campesina y en pequeña escala. Sin embargo, dos trabajos académicos recientes afirman que sólo alimenta a un tercio de la población mundial.

A debate has emerged as to what proportion of the global food supply is produced by small-scale food producers - one that may have big implications for policy-making addressing hunger. Civil society organisations and peasant movements have estimated that around 70% of the world is fed by small-scale farmers and other peasants. However, two recent academic papers are claiming that small farm producers really only feed about one third of the world’s population.

ETC Group is sad to have learned of the passing of Dr Arpad Pusztai on 17th December this Year. Dr Pustzai was a much respected, highly published UK government food safety scientist originally from Hungary. In 1998 his research, which raised questions about the safety of Genetic Engineering in potatoes, caused a political storm, cost him his job and became the lightning rod for a fierce public debate and popular revolt against GM foods in the UK .