Book Advocates Education as Key to Reducing Global Poverty and Hunger

AMES, Iowa - Reducing and eliminating global hunger must include education as a top priority, according to David Acker, co-author of a new book, "Education for Rural People: The Role of Education, Training and Capacity Development in Poverty Reduction and Food Security."  Acker is the associate dean of academic and global programs in the Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and a professor of agricultural education and studies. He also holds the endowed position as the Raymond and Mary Baker Chair in Global Agriculture. Acker said the book is being presented at the G8 Development Ministers meeting to be held in Rome June 11 and 12.  The purpose of the book is to assist policy-makers dealing with rural poverty, food insecurity and education challenges confronting rural people, Acker said. It also addresses the critical linkages among education, empowerment and food security, mainly through a number of "good practice" case studies from all over the world.  The G8 was originally set up in 1975 as the G6 with France, United States, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom and Japan in response to the economic crisis of the mid-1970s. The G8 now includes Canada and Russia and provides an informal framework for industrialized nations to discuss foreign affairs, the environment, development, labor, domestic affairs, justice, scientific research and agriculture, along with working groups that examine topics ranging from health to development to energy. "Italy holds the G8 presidency for 2009 and plans to distribute the book at the upcoming G8 Development Ministers meeting to reinforce the message that development efforts in poor countries must have education for rural people as a priority," Acker said. "Roughly 70 percent of the poor people in developing countries live in rural areas and to reach them with effective education and training requires innovative programs." The book was published in May by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and co-authored by Lavinia Gasperini at FAO. The book is available online. Acker will be the keynote speaker on June 4 in Rome at the "Food Crisis: Education and Training of Rural People at Stake." The international workshop brings together agriculture and educational leaders from around the world to discuss solutions to the global food crisis.