World leaders at UN food summit pledge to ease food crisis

World leaders have pledged to reduce trade barriers and boost agricultural production to combat a food crisis at a UN summit in Rome.

After three days of wrangling, delegates from about 180 countries have come to agreement. They approved a declaration resolving to ease the suffering caused by soaring food prices and step up investment in agriculture.

It calls for swift help for small-holder farmers in poor countries. The head of UN Food and Agriculture Organization Jacques Diouf says the gathering wasn't a pledging conference.

Nonetheless, billions of US dollars from countries, regional banks and the World Bank have been promised in recent days. The summit has also embraced UN chief Ban Ki-moon's call to explore the challenges and opportunities of biofuels.