Leaders meeting this week for the G8 Summit in Italy need to find US $23bn a year to meet the MDG goals of halving hunger by 2015, according to latest ActionAid research.

Trends, which have pushed the number of hungry above one billion, are set to worsen unless G8 leaders take bold action to revive developing world agriculture and reverse global warming.

Food prices are still on the increase in many developing countries while crop yields are stagnant. Rising unemployment and falling incomes are compounding the hunger crisis.

“The G8 is failing over one billion hungry people," said Angela Wauye, food rights coordinator at ActionAid Kenya.

"In 2008 they made commitments to tackle the food crisis but since last year, the number of hungry has risen by 100 million. Poor people cannot eat promises. This year the G8 must deliver.”

 

ActionAid has put together a timetable of action for G8 leaders. They must find US$23bn a year by 2012 to meet the MDG goals of halving hunger and stop it spiralling out of control.

France emerges as the champion of current spending on aid to combat hunger while Italy – the current G8 chair - languishes at the bottom, 70% off track on their targets.

“As hosts of a summit focusing on food security, Italy must show leadership by putting real money on the table, not empty promises,” said Otive Igbuzor, ActionAid’s Head of Campaigns.

ActionAid’s research shows that the UK is in second place in the fight against hunger with Germany third, Japan fourth, Canada fifth, the US sixth and Italy in last place.

ActionAid is also calling for an ambitious post-Kyoto mitigation and adaptation package, a binding and enforceable code of conduct against land deals in developing countries and stopping enforced trade liberalisation on developing countries.