UN chief says up to US$20 billion (euro12.83 billion) needed to boost food production

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon says US$15 billion to US$20 billion (euro10 billion to euro13 billion) is needed each year to boost food production to combat hunger.

The U.N. secretary-general says most of that money would have to come from concerned countries.

Ban was speaking Wednesday at a summit on the food price crisis. Delegates at the summit in Rome have been divided over the role biofuels is playing in driving up food prices to the point of provoking riots in some countries.

Ban says policy guidelines on biofuel production should be put in place because of its impact on food production.