In brief

* According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the United States spent $115 billion in the fight against environmental pollution. This figure is expected to reach $185 billion by the year 2000. Today 60 per cent of the amount spent comes from private enterprises, whose share could be increased under the new Clean Air Act.

* The drop in farm production in Iraq following the Gulf War has increased unemployment and increased reliance on food imports which, even in good years, had accounted for 70 per cent of food requirements. According to the FAO's Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS), the 1991-92 cereal campaign will be poor, mainly due to an acute lack of basic inputs (seed, fertilizers, pesticides, farm machinery and spare parts). Malnutrition is particularly severe among children, pregnant, women and nursing mothers. Numerous cases of marasmus and kwashiorkor have been reported in recent months.

* Courrier de la planete is the new title of the newsletter of the NGO, Solidarites agricoles et alimentaires, replacing the former Lettre de Solagral. The new publication appears in the form of a 40-page international monthly magazine. It is produced in collaboration with the Reseau strategies alimentaires and the Systeme francophone d'information agricole. Contact: Solagral, 11 passage Penel, 75018 Paris, France.