6. The Council expressed its support for the Director-General's initiative to propose the World Food Summit, which it hoped would lead to concrete, immediate and effective action at international and national levels, by governments and all other sectors of civil society. Noting that the Director-General would submit the proposal formally to the Conference at its Twenty-eighth Session, the Council recommended that the Conference approve the convening of the World Food Summit in Rome in November 1996 and that it make the necessary provisions in the Programme of Work and Budget for 1996-97 to permit its success.
7. The Council welcomed the preparations which had already been set in motion for the Summit, and expressed its appreciation to the Government of Italy for hosting the Summit and for providing political, material and diplomatic support to FAO for its organization.
8.The Council endorsed the conclusions of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS)2 and considered that the revised document3 constituted an appropriate and useful basis for future elaboration of draft final documents for the World Food Summit.
9. The Council made specific recommendations regarding issues to be given greater attention; which were reflected in the Verbatim Records, and to which the Secretariat would refer in preparing the draft text.
10. The Council considered that the Committee on World Food Security should play the role of focal point during 1996 for the discussion by Members of the proposed policy document and plan of action. It suggested that in addition to its already-scheduled January session, a second session of the CFS in 1996 could be held, possibly in September, to synthesize the conclusions of the Regional Conferences and prepare a consolidated text for submission to the Summit.
11. The Council also emphasized the importance of broad participation by international organizations, NGOs and the private sector, as well as of the academic and research community. The Secretariat was encouraged to seek inputs from these groups in preparing the draft texts and in making arrangements for the World Food Summit.
12. The Council commended the Report of the Twentieth Session of the Committee on World Food Security Secretariat and endorsed the conclusions and recommendations contained therein. It requested that:
a) The Secretariat undertake a review of both optimum national food security stock levels and the Minimum safe level of global cereal stocks;
b) FAO continue to provide technical assistance to Members on the modalities for implementation of the Uruguay Round Decision on Measures concerning the Possible Negative Effects of the Reform Programme on Least-Developed and Net Food-Importing Developing Countries, while concurring with the Committee that there was a potential for the Uruguay Round to stimulate world economic activity leading to increased demand for the exports of developing countries; and
c)The Committee continue its consideration of the overall approach to universal food security through strategic approaches and country case-studies which reflected an appropriate balance between supply and demand considerations. The country case-studies should, in particular, make recommendations for promoting efficient, equitable and sustainable exploitation of the entire resource base of each LIFDC benefiting from the full range of FAO assistance in support of food security.
1 CL 108/10: CL 108/12; CL 108/PV/3: CL 108/PV/4; CL 108/PV/14.
2 CL 108/10.
3 CL 108/12.
4 CL 108/2; CL 108/10; CL 108/PV/2; CL 108/PV/14.
