High-Level Virtual Event of the Global Network Against Food Crises - Release of the 2021 Global Report on Food Crises

FAO Director-General Dr QU Dongyu

Opening Speech
High-Level Virtual event of the Global Network Against Food Crises

 Release of the 2021 Global Report on Food Crises

5 May 2021

As prepared

 

Distinguished Participants,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends and Colleagues, 

1. The Global Report on Food Crises has become the reference for evidence and analysis of acute food insecurity and malnutrition in countries that require the concerted action of the international community.

2. The Report complements global efforts to monitor chronic food insecurity through the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World - the SOFI Report.  

3. This type of high-quality, consensus-based data is essential for making sound decisions to prevent acute hunger and to catalyse the development of resilient agri-food systems.

4. The report represents a critical resource to inform strategic planning and decision-making for addressing all dimensions of food crises, from humanitarian responses to long-term resilience building.

5. As we prepare for the UN Food Systems Summit, sound technical information from reports like this must be at the core of game-changing solutions.

6. In April 2020, as part of our campaign on “Food Crises and COVID-19”, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) released the 2020 Global Report on Food Crises.

7. Unfortunately, the 2021 edition of the Global Report confirms an accelerating trend of rising acute food insecurity, which indicates people’s inability to consume adequate food due to crises and shocks, and calls for immediate assistance to save their lives or livelihoods.

8. And, it tells us that increasing numbers of people are experiencing the most severe conditions of acute food insecurity.

9. Chronic hunger, as reported each year by SOFI, indicates people’s long-term inability to meet food requirements and to maintain a normal, active lifestyle.

10. In 2020, a massive desert locust upsurge in the Horn of Africa, in addition to restrictions related to the pandemic, further fuelled humanitarian needs.

11. But despite these new challenges, conflict, economic crises and extreme climate events continued to be the main drivers of acute food insecurity, pushing people into extreme conditions, particularly in countries or contexts where more than one of these drivers came together.

12. The staggering scale of acute food insecurity revealed by today’s Global Report is a clarion call to us all.

13. We must act together to prevent further deterioration.

14. FAO is proud to be an active member of the Secretary-General’s High-Level Task Force on Preventing Famine, which seeks to do just that.

15. This is indeed critical.

16. But, at the same time, it is more important than ever that we act together to address the root causes of these rising levels of acute food insecurity.

17. Yes, we want to stop acute hunger situations from worsening in 2021. But we cannot find ourselves having to do so again next year. Or any year. The cycle must end.

18. This requires a bold transformation of agri-food systems to be MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable.

19. This includes the development of early warning systems linked to anticipatory actions to protect livelihoods and food security before a shock or threat emerges.

20. For example, last year, FAO estimated that anticipatory actions to control the desert locust upsurge prevented food losses with a value of around USD 1.2 billion, and kept close to 24 million people from becoming food insecure.

21. Addressing the consequences of desert locusts after the crisis would have cost far more in terms of livelihood losses and financial resources. 

22.  An increased focus on prevention is essential.

23. This demands political willingness, as well as urgent, scaled-up and coherent action by all actors, with associated investment in long-term, inclusive solutions.

24. In support of such global efforts, the FAO Hand-in-Hand initiative and its associated geospatial hub is making a significant contribution to the transition out of emergency and to promote resilience by bringing together tools for early warning and related actions.

25. It uses the digital power to transform agri-food systems for eliminating hunger, reducing poverty and building up a better future for all humankind.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

26. The outlook for 2021 and beyond is grim.

27. The pandemic has revealed the fragility of our agri-food systems.

28. This has starkly underscored the need for more equitable, sustainable and resilient systems to nutritiously and consistently feed 10 billion people by 2050.

29. The Global Report demonstrates the urgency of acting together to radically transform agri-food systems at all levels to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

30. FAO is committed to working alongside governments, affected populations and stakeholders at national, regional and global level to address all dimensions of food crises.

31. The global community is demonstrating that if we work together, we can make progress in tackling this threat.

My Friends,

32. Humankind can now pilot a helicopter drone and even split molecules to generate oxygen on the far-off planet of Mars.

33. Yet, here on Earth, 155 million of our human family are suffering acute hunger and their lives and livelihoods are at risk because they lack the most basic of foods.

34. The contrast is shocking and not acceptable!

35. We can reverse the trend of rising acute food insecurity and transform our agri-food systems.

36. There is a better future that awaits all of us, with no one left behind.

37. Let’s roll up our sleeves and seize the challenge – together!

38. Thank you.