Five urgent steps to address global food crisis
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has outlined five urgent steps to halt the global food crisis and transform agri-food systems.
Among the major threats to global food security and the functioning of food systems, director-general of the FAO, Qu Dongyu, cited the Covid-19 pandemic; the global interruption of supply chains and the rising costs of major primary commodities; the war in the Ukraine, and other top ten conflicts and humanitarian crises across the world and their detrimental consequences.
The situation has been further aggravated by the long-term decreased investment in agri-food systems that are facing pressure under climate change and population growth, he said.
“We are at serious risk of facing a food access crisis now, and a food availability crisis for the next season.”
An outline
To address this situation, Qu outlined the following urgent steps:
First, 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 key.
Second, Qu called for greater support for the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) multi-partner initiative for improving food security and nutrition analysis and decision-making to expand the country coverage.
The IPC provides information on the scale and severity of food insecurity and famine situation.
Third, countries need to foster policies that increase productivity, efficiency, resilience, and inclusivity of agricultural systems. That will require significant financial investment, estimated at 8% of the size of the agri-food market.
Fourth, reducing food loss and waste can 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% of food loss and waste, there would be sufficient fruits and vegetables for all," he said.
Fifth, ensuring better and more efficient use of available fertilisers is of paramount importance. It is crucial that all key partners work in a coherent way to get necessary fertilisers available to farmers in time. He urged countries to improve fertiliser efficiency to fit local farming systems.
Speaking about market transparency and the need to stabilise prices, he highlighted the importance of keeping global trade system open.
Among the major threats to global food security and the functioning of food systems, director-general of the FAO, Qu Dongyu, cited the Covid-19 pandemic; the global interruption of supply chains and the rising costs of major primary commodities; the war in the Ukraine, and other top ten conflicts and humanitarian crises across the world and their detrimental consequences.
The situation has been further aggravated by the long-term decreased investment in agri-food systems that are facing pressure under climate change and population growth, he said.
“We are at serious risk of facing a food access crisis now, and a food availability crisis for the next season.”
An outline
To address this situation, Qu outlined the following urgent steps:
First, 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 key.
Second, Qu called for greater support for the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) multi-partner initiative for improving food security and nutrition analysis and decision-making to expand the country coverage.
The IPC provides information on the scale and severity of food insecurity and famine situation.
Third, countries need to foster policies that increase productivity, efficiency, resilience, and inclusivity of agricultural systems. That will require significant financial investment, estimated at 8% of the size of the agri-food market.
Fourth, reducing food loss and waste can 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% of food loss and waste, there would be sufficient fruits and vegetables for all," he said.
Fifth, ensuring better and more efficient use of available fertilisers is of paramount importance. It is crucial that all key partners work in a coherent way to get necessary fertilisers available to farmers in time. He urged countries to improve fertiliser efficiency to fit local farming systems.
Speaking about market transparency and the need to stabilise prices, he highlighted the importance of keeping global trade system open.
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