The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has revealed that agriculture is one of the keys to lasting peace and security.

The FAO has called for greater funding for agriculture to ensure there’s available and accessible food in crises, noting that conflict “remains the single greatest driver of hunger”.

“My message today is more relevant than before: agriculture is one of the keys to lasting peace and security.”
Qu Dongyu

Qu noted that only 8 percent of total funding for the humanitarian food security sector goes to agriculture despite its critical importance. Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine risks adding to the already rising number of people threatened by food insecurity around the world.

Acute food insecurity on the rise

In 2021, the number of people experiencing acute food insecurity rose to nearly 193 million, up 40 million from 2020, and is set to increase further this year, according to the Global Report on Food Crises. Afghanistan, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen are all facing risks of famine.

The latest rise results from several factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis.

However, the conflict remains the single biggest contributor to global hunger. Between 2018 and 2021, the number of people in crisis in countries where conflict was the main driver of acute food insecurity increased by 88%, to just over 139 million, Qu said.

Strengthening Agrifood systems expand production

To prevent the acceleration of acute food insecurity trends in the coming months and years, Qu stressed the importance of expanding food production at the country level by providing cash and critical inputs for cereal and vegetable production and protecting livestock with treatments and vaccinations, feed, and water.

“Agrifood supply chains and value chains must be strengthened with the engagement of the public and private sector in support of smallholder farmers and households,” he said.

Qu also called on the global community to allocate new resources to sustain agricultural production in challenging contexts and invest more in innovation and new technologies, especially in water management and n more transparent market information systems.

“Members urgently need to transform their agri-food systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable for better production, nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.”
Qu Dongyu

The war between Russia and Ukraine, two of the world’s biggest wheat and sunflower oil suppliers, has disrupted exports and logistics and seriously affected food availability. In addition, the increase in energy and fertilizer prices is putting the next global harvest at risk. According to FAO’s latest scenarios, the conflict could increase chronic undernourishment by an additional 18.8 million people by 2023.

The meeting in New York was chaired by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (the United States is the current holder of the rotating Security Council Presidency) and also saw the participation of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, David Beasley.