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› News Release OECD governments have made little overall
progress in reducing water contamination from farming over the
past decade. More rigorous policies are needed to reduce the use
of pesticides and encourage sustainable management of water
quality in agriculture. Agricultural policies to reduce poverty
in developing countries should focus on strategic investments to
raise productivity and benefit from high food prices, according
to a new OECD study. Experts, manufacturers and government
officials meeting in Paris this week reaffirmed their commitment
to maintaining safety standards in farm machinery by expanding
and updating the OECD’s harmonised tests and codes. Government
support to agriculture in OECD countries fell to 18% of total
farm receipts in 2010, a record low linked to high commodity
prices, but has been rising in large emerging economies,
according to a new OECD report. Surging food and commodity
prices are undermining efforts t