Japan pledges food aid ahead of G8 summit

Leaders of the eight major industrial powers meet starting Monday in the northern Japanese mountain resort of Toyako, where they are reportedly set to agree on a new system of "food reserves" to assist hungry nations.

Japan said it would contribute $50 million over the next three months in food aid, on top of $200 million it pledged since the crisis of spiralling food prices came into the public spotlight earlier this year.     
"Surging food prices are one of the most important issues to be discussed during the G8 summit in Toyako, Hokkaido next week," Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said of the meeting on Japan's northernmost main island.

"The situation remains serious, particularly in developing countries," Komura said.     

Japanese media said that the summit would agree on a new system of "food reserves" in which every G8 nation