The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Qu Dongyu, has outlined five urgent steps to halt the global food crisis and transform agrifood systems as he addressed the G7 Ministerial Conference “Uniting for Global Food Security.”
Among the major threats to global food security and the functioning of agrifood systems, Qu cited the COVID-19 pandemic, the global interruption of the supply chain and rising costs of major primary commodities, the war in Ukraine, and other top ten conflicts and humanitarian crises across the world and their detrimental consequences. He noted that the long-term decreased investment in agrifood systems has further aggravated the situation, facing pressure under climate change and population growth.
“We are at serious risk of facing a food access crisis now and a food availability crisis for the next season,” Qu noted.
Invest in countries most severely affected by the increase in food prices
To address this situation, Qu said it is vital to invest in countries most severely affected by the increase in food prices.
“In addition to food aid, supporting local production of nutritious foods is also crucial. Currently, only eight percent of all food security funding in emergencies and crisis aids goes to assist agricultural production. More significant support from Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) multi-partner initiative is needed to improve food security and nutrition analysis and decision-making to expand the country’s coverage.
“Countries need to foster policies that increase productivity, efficiency, resilience, and inclusivity of agrifood systems. That will require significant financial investment, estimated at eight percent of the size of the agrifood market.”
Qu Dongyu
Qu urged countries to minimize postharvest losses as much as possible to save the looming food security issue.
“Countries must work to reduce food loss and waste to improve food security and nutrition. Foods currently lost and wasted could feed around 1.26 billion people per year. ‘If we try to reduce 50 percent of food loss and waste, there would be sufficient fruits and vegetables for all,’ the FAO developed a comprehensive plan of actions for 52 Hand-in-Hand Initiative countries to achieve this goal.
“Countries should also ensure more efficient use of available fertilizers. All key partners must work coherently to get necessary fertilizers available to farmers in time; I want to urge all countries to improve fertilizer efficiency to fit local farming systems. For example, fast implementation of detailed soil maps would support the most vulnerable countries to use their fertilizers more efficiently.”
Qu Dongyu
FAO commits to enhance global market transparency through Agricultural Market
Speaking about market transparency and the need to stabilize prices, the Director-General highlighted the importance of keeping the global trade system open. He iterated FAO’s commitment to enhancing global market transparency through the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS), an essential tool to foster confidence in international markets.
The German Government hosted the international conference, represented by Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock, Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Svenja Schulze, and Minister of Food and Agriculture Cem Özdemir.
The conference brought together ministers and representatives from diverse countries, including the G7, the UN Global Crisis Response Group Champions, key donor states, and the most vulnerable and affected countries, as well as leaders from international organizations such as the United Nations and civil society.
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