G8 correcting mistakes tackling hunger - U.N.

By Phil Stewart

L'AQUILA, Italy (Reuters) - Leaders of rich nations are shifting from food donations to agricultural investment to tackle world hunger but pledges made at a G8 summit in Italy will not meet needs, a senior U.N. official said on Friday.

Jacques Diouf, director-general of the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), applauded a G8 statement, set to be approved by leaders shortly, pledging $15 billion (9.3 billion pounds) over three years to boost agricultural investment in poorer countries.

"What is new and is encouraging is that there is a decision for the first time to shift policy," Diouf told Reuters in an interview.

"Food aid is necessary because we have people suffering from drought, from flood, from conflicts and what they want is immediate food to eat ... But if we have to feed 1 billion hungry people, we have to help them produce their own food."

The U.S. is the world's largest aid donor of food -- mostly grown domestically and bought from U.S. farmers.

Diouf said the details of the $15 billion, for investment and food security, were yet to be clarified but would be under discussion on Friday.

"Certainly, it's not enough. But compared to where we were, it's certainly a big jump."

According to the United Nations, the number of malnourished people has risen over the past two years and is expected to top 1.02 billion this year, reversing a four-decade trend of decline.