World food summit starts

International leaders are gathering in Rome to discuss the best way of safeguarding the future of world food supplies.

There are dire predictions of food shortages in the coming decades, fuelled by a global population boom.

Some say though, the UN world food summit is not likely to make more than token headway in the fight against hunger, with leaders merely pledging to boost aid to poor countries but setting no targets or deadlines for action.

Peter Ndoro spoke to Christine Amaral, chief of emergency operation services for Africa for the FAO and began by asking her why this summit is important.