A three day conference hosted by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation has begun in Rome.

The main intention of the summit is to find ways to help the world's hungry to help themselves.

The delegates from more than 60 nations have already agreed on the draft document of a declaration that will end the gathering.

The draft pledges to increase the amount spent on global agricultural development, but does not specify sums or the means of delivery. It also fails to mention a target date for the eradication of hunger - the main objective of the summit.

The signatories are mainly leaders from the developing world. Silvio Berlusconi, the prime minister of the host nation, Italy, is the only G8 leader present.

This has led many to question the effectiveness of the summit and to ask what it can achieve and whether it will be as ineffective as previous summits.

Inside Story discusses with guests Abdolreza Abbassian, an economist at the Food and Agriculture Organisation ( FAO), Sylvia Borren, a co-chair of Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), and Vandana Shiva, an environmental activist and author.

This episode of Inside Story can be seen from Monday, November 16, 2009 at the following times GMT: Monday: 1730, 2230; Tuesday: 0430, 1030.