Arlington, Va. — Technology’s role in combating the global food crisis was the key theme during a U.N. Private Sector roundtable discussion moderated Wednesday by Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).
The roundtable discussion was part of a broader U.N. Private Sector Forum that featured global business leaders and key U.N. officials discussing the U.N.’s Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and Food Sustainability.
“Technological innovations can help solve the global food crisis, and as industry leaders, we must collaborate with governments and the United Nations to promote the use of new technologies for food security and sustainability,” said Shapiro.
“Advancements in technology not only contribute to the efforts to fight hunger on a global scale, but they also aid in building economic sustainability in developing regions. Every citizen of the world must have access to technology to be connected,” he noted.
The U.N. Private Sector Forum consisted of several roundtable discussions focused on the global food crisis and food sustainability and featured global business leaders including executives from Intel, Coca-Cola and Ericsson. Conference speakers included U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, former U.S. President Bill Clinton and World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick.
Universal access to technology for all citizens will serve as major theme throughout the upcoming 2009 International CES, scheduled Jan. 8-11 in Las Vegas. The second annual Technology and Emerging Countries Program (TEC) at CES will focus on technology’s impact on economic advancement and sustainability in developing regions. The program will feature keynote addresses from Intel chairman Craig Barrett and Cisco chairman and CEO John Chambers. The 2009 CES show floor will feature a Technology and Emerging Countries TechZone, showcasing the pioneering technologies that contribute to the social and cultural development of emerging economies.
