But if they took the longer view, they might see the benefit of focusing on the developing world. Not just as a gesture of corporate citizenship, but because such an investment will ultimately pay dividends as developing countries mature into reliable customers. One of the challenges of the coming years will be to move past the somewhat stale current debate and harness the power of biotechnology for the benefit of the poorer, food-insecure regions of the world. That will have to be a joint effort on the part of governments, the private sector and the multilateral community. It is the very first step toward empowerment and self-reliance.
Nothing is possible without it.
And all of us, working together, need to be innovative in devising solutions that get food in the hands of those who need it. In the United States, one of the ways we've attacked hunger is through early intervention, by feeding young children in school. The School Meals program has been one of the greatest successes of 20th century American government activism. It serves about 27 million children a day, giving them the sustenance they need to learn. I have been talking with George McGovern, U.S. Ambassador to the FAO, and others about ways to take the success we've had with this domestic program and apply it internationally.