of
Remarks of Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman
at the African Growth and Opportunity Act Forum
Plenary Session on Science and Technology
U.S. Department of State Washington, D.C.
Wednesday, December 10, 2003

SECRETARY VENEMAN: “Thank you very much, Dr. Sharpless, and good afternoon to all of you. And I certainly appreciate the opportunity to be
here and be part of this forum today.

“I had the honor of being part of the first forum in October a couple of years ago, in 2001, when it was here in Washington. And, certainly, as you know, this Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture strongly supports the principles of the African Growth and Opportunity Act.

“It has given us a solid basis and significant opportunity for increased economic cooperation and trade between the United States and eligible Sub-Saharan African countries.

“We expect it to result in significant new trade and investment flows. The U.S. is strongly committed to assisting countries in their efforts to raise their agricultural productivity, one of the keys to economic growth.

“This morning, some of you have attended under Secretary of State Al Larson's forum on agricultural trade and economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa, which also focused on recent developments in science and technology in Africa.

“The connection between agricultural productivity and economic growth cannot be overstated. A recent analysis by the International Food Policy Research Institute suggests that an annual increase in crop and livestock productivity of just 3 to 4 percent in Africa would triple per capita incomes. It would reduce the number of malnourished children by 40 percent.

“So, finding solutions to global hunger and poverty will involve rearranging the priorities of individual countries to address the most critical areas. The United States is committed to these efforts

“Countries must strengthen agricultural polices and institutions and increase investments in agriculture. Seventy percent of Africa's labor force works in agriculture. But agriculture productivity in Africa is stagnant and world market share in major agricultural exports are in decline, according to the International Food Policy Research Institute. We must work together to change this.

“Let me add that recognition of the importance of agriculture in Africa's economic development extends beyond the U.S. government. The World Bank and other multilateral organizations have also put a renewed emphasis on investment in agriculture.

“The World Bank estimates that agriculture in developing countries through the world must grow by an average of 3.5 percent annually to achieve the goal of reducing poverty and hunger by half by the year 2015.

“The current growth rate is only a little over 2 percent per year, clearly indicating the challenge that is before us.

“Technological advances, such as those we will discuss today are no good if they are neither accessible, nor relevant.

“In order to facilitate adaptation of new technologies, it is fundamental that the basic policies and institutions be in place.

“Our goal today is to discuss successful experiences in agricultural technology transfer and extension in Sub-Saharan Africa, including discussion of essential supportive policy and regulatory frameworks in a free-trade environment.

“Last year at the World Food Summit in Rome, I discussed President Bush's ongoing commitment to the goal of cutting in half the number of hungry people in the world by the year 2015, what the President calls a ‘moral imperative.’

“The priorities of the United States in meeting that goal are reducing hunger by increasing agricultural productivity; ending famine; and improving nutrition. The delegates in Rome found progress to be clearly lagging in time--and it still is.

“In fact, just a few weeks ago, the FAO announced that the number of hungry people in the world increased to 842 million in the second half of the 1990s--reversing a decrease in world hunger during the first half of the decade.

“Progress to reduce hunger must be 12 times the current rate to reach the goal of success for the year 2015.

“At the 2002 World Food Summit, ministers discussed way to speed the pace of hunger reduction. There was agreement that science and technology play a key role in accelerating agricultural productivity.

“It was in Rome that I announced that the United States would host a Ministerial Conference on Agricultural Science and Technology. About 1,000 people, including 119 ministerial-level participants, such as ministers of agriculture, ministers of science and technology, of health, of trade, environment and commerce attended this past June in Sacramento, California.

“In all, 117 countries were represented at this Ministerial, including 33 African nations. My co-chair, today, Minister Mugerwa, was one of the distinguished participants at our Ministerial.

“It was one of the largest, most diverse gatherings ever of decision-makers from around the world to address the issue of global hunger. We looked at technology's role in helping feed the hungry, provide nutrition to the malnourished, and lift those in need out of poverty.

“The application of science and technology along with supportive policies, can help achieve all of this by raising agricultural productivity in an environmentally sustainable way.

“Raising productivity will not merely reduce hunger, it will provide a whole host of additional benefits, including higher incomes and economic growth.

“One of the speakers at the Sacramento Ministerial was Dr. Norman Borlaug, the Father of the Green Revolution. Dr. Borlaug talked about extending the Green Revolution to the "Gene Revolution" in order to feed the world's hungry. And he emphasized that it was essential that Africa not be bypassed by this gene revolution.

“Biotechnology can produce higher crop yields and yet require a fraction of the pesticide applications of other varieties. It can produce crops that can withstand climate extremes that are particularly adapted to the needs of individual regions. And it can produce plants fortified with nutrients that promote health and nutrition, such as vitamin A-enriched golden rice, which prevents night blindness.

“Just a few weeks ago, the U.N.’s Economic Commission for Africa urged the adoption of biotechnology to increase productivity in an environmentally sustainable way and to combat poverty.

“In October, a New York Times editorial said: "The world shouldn't ban genetically modified food. It should develop a cassava root resistant to the mealy bug and drought-proof corn ... the real crime of genetic modification is not its risks ... but that it is squandering its promise."

“While biotechnology and other advanced technologies hold major potential for productivity gains, even basic approaches can make a big difference.

“Just a few months ago, the World Food Program reported at areas in Ethiopia that invested in basic irrigation were able to break an endless cycle of drought and famine. Irrigation and issues of water quantity and quality emerged as major topics of discussion at the Sacramento Ministerial.

“We need to learn from the success stories, many of which were highlighted at the meeting in Sacramento and many of which apply on a larger scale. For example, small-scale farmers in Uganda increased maize yields 46 percent during 1996 to 2001 through improved cultivation practices.

“Farmers in Malawi are benefiting from a high-yielding, pest-resistant variety of cassava.

“We can make great strides by helping developing countries adopt and develop their own appropriate agricultural technologies from the conventional to the state-of-the-art. We must harness the information that already exists to help farmers in Africa and elsewhere.

“Research is keeping the technology pipeline filled, but we must find additional ways for farmers to tap into that pipeline. If agricultural research is not applied, it is of little practical use to anyone.

“It is also vital that we help expand the knowledge base through research and support for local institutions.

“At the Sacramento Ministerial, delegates discussed the need to revitalize indigenous research institutions and to encourage research on many basic staple foods, especially those that are grown in Africa.

“In order to achieve many of our goals, the building of additional partnerships between and among countries, academia, and industry will be critical.

“I am pleased that we will hear from Dr. Siaway today and his good work at Tuskegee University. The USDA helps facilitate partnerships with several of our historically black colleges and universities, many of which are working in Africa to reduce hunger and poverty.

“The Sacramento Ministerial generated momentum and enthusiasm that continue today. Already we are working to build on these efforts. We are holding follow-up sessions around the world, including a forum in West Africa next summer. Ministers from Africa were among the first to offer to host such regional more specialized conferences.

“We look forward to those sessions and the opportunity to discuss how science and technology, along with a supportive policy environment can drive agricultural productivity and economic growth.

“Finally, no discussion of the accelerating agricultural productivity in Africa would be complete without addressing HIV/AIDS.

“This horrible disease has already killed 20 million people around the world, including 7 million farmers in Africa who once tended the land and provided food for their people. An additional 42 million people live with the HIV virus. More than 70 percent of the world's HIV-positive population lives in Sub-Saharan Africa. In some countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, more than 30 percent of the adult population is HIV-positive. HIV/AIDS has lowered the life expectancy in that region by 15 years, from 62 to only 47 years old.

“Some studies estimate that the disease will cause an 8 percent drop in per capita GPD over the next decade in the worst-affected countries. In several of those countries, 60 to70 percent of farms have suffered labor losses because of HIV/AIDS, in nations where the vast majority of citizens rely on small acreage farms to live. As the disease ravages once productive agricultural workers, households reduce the acreages that they plant and spend less time in the field so that they can tend to the sick.

“They also devote more of their income toward medical expenses and less toward food, further impacting food security.

“HIV/AIDS is one of the most pressing issues affecting agricultural productivity and food security in Africa. And it threatens to rob the continent of a generation of farmers, knowledge, and progress.

“The global need to address this deadly scourge is clear.

“The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which he signed into law this year, would direct $15 billion over the next five years to battle HIV/AIDS, with the focus on Africa and the Caribbean.

“Hunger, poverty, and disease are problems that will require an international response and the rearranging of priorities and resources by individual countries.

“The AGOA Forum demonstrates the will of the U.S. government and other nations to search for and to implement solutions.

“I want to thank you all for your presence here today, for your commitment and for your concerted efforts to address these many issues. Thank you all, very much.”

[APPLAUSE.]