Assembly/AU/ Decl.2(XI) Page 4 d. Energizing scientific research in the field of fertilizers and new seed varieties, one that scrutinizes the effects of genetically modified seeds on sanitary and phyto- sanitary, human, as well as animal health. e. Confronting climate change challenges seriously and effectively in its relationship with prevailing consumption and production patterns, and their grave repercussions on drought and land desertification, and their direct consequences on the world's food security. 4. The setting of an international code of conduct that: a. Reconsiders the current expansion in the production of biofuel as an alternative source of traditional energy. b. Sets the standards for the responsible utilization of grain based biofuel. c. Reassesses the actual social and environmental costs of biofuel, and restricts its production to agricultural waste and specific designated non food crops. d. Reconsiders the current subsidy offered to ethanol and bio-diesel producers, and subjects it to rules of world trade. This subsidization is creating hazardous distortion to the present international system of agricultural production and trade. WE FURTHER CALL UPON: Multilateral and bilateral development partners, in particular those participating in the next G8 Summit in Hokaiddo to provide financial and technical support to assist African countries to increase substantially their food and agricultural production and productivity. The RECs to take proactive measures on their assistance to countries on the short term, as well as, medium-long term response by identification of the technical assistance required at the regional level. African Union Commission and NEPAD Secretariat to establish a taskforce supported by FAO, WFP, IFAD, World Bank, and RECs that can coordinate active and timely follow-up to actions in this declaration including; facilitation the coordination of development partners support for country level programming activities in connection with both immediate and longer term responses to the food price crisis and supporting the dialogue with development partners at national level on responses to the crisis. The African Union Commission, NEPAD Secretariat in collaboration with the FAO, WFP, IFAD, AfDB and the World Bank to develop a short term action plan to raise production substantially in the next two planning seasons. We commit ourselves to mobilize all means to alleviate the suffering caused by the situation of rising food prices and to strengthen agricultural development raising production and productivity as a solution to the challenges facing Africa. Sharm El-Sheikh, 1 July 2008