The Group of Eight (G8) countries called on Monday "for increasing public and private investment" in agriculture.

G8 agriculture ministers at their first-ever meeting in northern Italy said in a declaration the world was "very far from reaching" the UN goal of halving by 2015 the world's population of hunger, after they reviewed what they called "alarming data" on hunger and poverty.

G8 agriculture meeting ends without specific plan [CFP]

The declaration reiterated the G8's determination to achieve its goal of "defeating hunger."

The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation told the G8 that the number of chronically hungry people is set to increase this year as result of persistently high food prices and the economic crisis, bringing the number of malnourished well above the one billion mark.

The document did not give detailed plan but outlined general principles such as opposition to trade protectionism, and support for investment in research.

"Agriculture and food security are at the core of the international agenda," the ministers said at the end of their three-day meeting, reflecting a consensus to reverse what officials called 25 years of decline.

The G8 ministers also invited representatives from developing nations such as China, India, and key exporters of agricultural commodities, including Brazil and Argentina.

The ministers acknowledged that the food situation has not improved markedly following last year's crisis.

"The depth of the current economic recession means that the number of people who are poor and, consequently, hungry has increase since last year," the statement said. "Structural factors may affect prices over the medium term, and increased volatility and demand raise important question about food security in the future."

On the thorny issue of a global grains stockpile, the declaration reflected the lack of agreement postponing any decision to future studies. "We call upon the relevant international institutions to examine whether a system of stockholding could be effective in dealing with humanitarian emergencies or as a means to limit price volatility."

The final document also sidelined disagreements over biofuels, simply stating that production "should be increased in a sustainable manner through balances combination of the energy policies needs and agricultural production."

(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2009)