Uniting FAO and private sector commitment to achieve SDG 2
Ensuring food security and nutrition for all involves complex, interrelated challenges – and close partnerships with a full spectrum of entities. To open the doors of discussion, FAO has launched a series of Partnership Dialogues, which invite FAO’s non-state actor partners to exchange with FAO on key topics of global interest in the context of food security governance and agrifood systems.
The first session, held on 31 May 2024, welcomed FAO’s Informal Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG) members to discuss views from the private sector on FAO's global roadmap to achieving SDG2 without breaching the 1.5ºC threshold. Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger (SDG 2) within the 1.5°C threshold requires robust private sector involvement – including cooperation between investors, international organizations, governments, and philanthropic entities – to minimize food loss and waste throughout the value chain and promote sustainable food systems.
The dialogue provided valuable insights into the current and future commitments of private sector entities towards this ambitious goal. The event, moderated by Carlos Watson, Head of FAO’s Private Sector Partnerships Unit, was attended by FAO's core leadership, including Deputy Director-General Maurizio Martina, Chief Economist Maximo Torero, and Director of the Agrifood Economics Division (ESA) David Laborde. Permanent Representatives from Canada and Australia attended the meeting as observers.
A wide range of private sector entities from all regions and diverse agrifood sectors took part in the meeting, including farmers' organizations, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), large multinationals, and industry associations. During the welcoming remarks, FAO's Deputy Director-General, Maurizio Martina, underlined that “the dialogue presents a critical opportunity for our collective efforts towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals while enhancing private sector involvement in our work vis-à-vis sustainable food systems transformation and climate action”.
Throughout the discussion, speakers emphasized the role of technology and innovation as a driving force to address climate change, and data was highlighted as an important tool in supporting informed decision-making processes. Recommendations for a more action-oriented approaches to implementing the Roadmap, including setting up milestones and highlighting the need to continue sharing information on the exercise during regional and global events, were also put forward.
The second PSAG meeting of 2024 is planned for the end of June this year.
FAO Informal Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG)
In 2023, FAO completed the process for the establishment of the FAO Informal Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG) – an advisory, consultative forum designed to boost FAO's engagement with the private sector in support of the 2030 Agenda. It serves as an informal channel allowing select stakeholders across the private sector to give important advice and feedback on FAO's increasing engagement with the private sector. The PSAG consists of 25 private sector entities reflecting a balanced global representation of actors across the agrifood value chain.
