In the last few weeks, we have seen another round of international debate on hunger, poverty, food security and, by extension, agricultural production. We have more to come. The G8 summit turned its attention, briefly, to the New Partnership for Africa's Development. A promise of aid, tied to conditions, but little sign of what the agriculture-based economies of the developing world really want; greater market access. So, despite the rhetoric of good intentions, nothing new.

There was more talk at the World Food Summit: Five Years Later (Points of View) where delegates re-stated problems that are obvious to all, especially with world attention finally focussed on the plight of millions facing starvation in southern Africa (News). Farmers can produce food for rich and poor alike but the poor go hungry if the policies that direct pricing and distribution are skewed in favour of the powerful and wealthy. So it is not the case that agriculture is letting people down but rather that governments are letting agriculture down, as Per Pinstrup Andersen, Director-General of the International Food Policy Research Institute argues in Perspective. The point applies to countries at all levels of development.

Equally in need of sound policies is the subject we Focus On this month - water. And policies also feature in our Developments section. The move, in many countries, towards regional and local government in an attempt to improve delivery of services, is discussed in Decentralization - who really benefits? Two aspects of ecotourism, a foreign exchange earner that tourism ministers are always keen to promote, are contrasted in Establishing the balance which you will find in the Developments section and A Trip Too Far in In Print.

Our picture feature on Peru shows what a small community can achieve given the right opportunities. As the globalisation protesters continue to vent their largely unfocussed anger at the way the world is, it is good to know that, despite the continuing distress suffered by the poor, for many more life is definitely getting better. But we should remember that a fair chance is what people need and that "Fine words butter no parsnips."

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Points of view World Food Summit: Five years later Focus on Water Making the most of the Mekong Tracing the paths of pollution Floating the idea of fish Waste not want not East Kolkata Wetlands Managing the flood Some like it salty, some like it not In Print Science, Agriculture and Research: A compromised participation? Trees on the Farm: Assessing the adoption potential of agroforestry practices in Africa Vital Signs 2002: The trends that are shaping our future From the Rural Heart of Latin America: Farmers, agricultural research and livelihoods A Trip Too Far: Ecotourism, politics and exploitation Contracting for Agricultural Extension: International Case Studies and Emerging Practices The Future of Food: Biotechnology markets and policies in an international setting Seeding Solutions: Volume 2. Options for national laws governing control over genetic resources and biological innovations Seed Provision and Agricultural Development Gender, Land and Livelihoods in East Africa: Through farmers' eyes Picture Feature Atahualpa Co-operative, Cajamarca, northern Peru

Perspective More research and better policies are essential for achieving the World Food Summit goal By Per Pinstrup-Andersen News Famine threatens southern Africa Russian land reform Record harvest - record hunger Britain pledges more aid for Africa The end of the road for rinderpest? Tomatoes could help to fight mosquitoes and cancer Tobacco and trees to clean up TNT Modified maize? Endowment to support global seed collections Chilean herb source of new insecticides Taking out tsetse and tryps Call to phase out Paraquat An explosion in demand for Sorghum? New sesame on the street Agriculture - engine for growth Developments Decentralisation: who really benefits? Where there's muck there's megaWatts!! A fungal feast? Establishing the balance: Eco-tourism and farming Country Profile Malaysia

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