International Conference on Food Security Opening Ceremony Opening Statement

International Conference on Food Security

Opening Ceremony

Opening Statement

By

Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General

Samarkand, 7 September 2023

 

His Excellency the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan,

Excellences,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

I am very happy to be here in the historic Silk Road city of Samarkand at the International Conference on Food Security, organized by the Government of Uzbekistan with technical support from FAO. This is an important opportunity to review the state of global food security in the context of agrifood systems transformation, on the path towards achieving the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.

 

Currently, food security is threatened by food price spikes and excessive volatility, especially of some key food staples, as well as significant levels of food inflation. FAO assesses that globally 45 countries, including 33 in Africa, are in need of external assistance for food.

 

At the global level, El Niño poses a risk to agricultural production and food security in several regions, particularly Southern Africa and Central America. The climate crisis, conflicts, and economic slowdowns and downturns are among the key drivers of these challenges, posing a serious threat to the most vulnerable populations.

 

The countries of Central Asia are exceptionally vulnerable in some respects: - it is among the most water stressed regions of the world. Renewable freshwater resources have declined in the region to a level that is among the lowest in the world, while water withdrawals for agricultural, industrial and municipal use are among the highest globally.

 

Central Asia is also exceptionally vulnerable to the impacts of the climate crisis. Furthermore, the countries of this region are landlocked – and indeed double landlocked in the case of our host country Uzbekistan. For this reason, this Conference is critically important because it provides an opportunity for us to exchange knowledge and identify solutions to strengthen food security and protect the most vulnerable, by achieving equitable economic prosperity through the transformation of agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable.

 

Agrifood systems provide significant opportunities to generate income and facilitate economic growth, and modern agrifood systems have enabled millions of people to escape hunger and premature death, including in Central Asia. Today, the people of this region have, on average, access to sufficient food, with only 3% lacking access and about 13% suffering from moderate or severe food insecurity. However, diets need to improve in this region, which has seen an increase in adult obesity and non-communicable diseases due to unhealthy diets – this situation is not only unhealthy, but also costly.

 

Modern agrifood systems pose some serious problems for the environment. About 25% of all greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture - a figure that is likely to increase to about 50% by 2050.

 

The COVID-19 crisis also showed how vulnerable long value chains are to disruption, and gender imbalances in agrifood systems remain a key challenge.

 

For this reason, the transformation is urgent to:

• One: meet the increased demand for food, feed, fiber and fuel, while reducing pressure on natural resources;
• Two: reduce greenhouse gas emissions and safeguard biodiversity;
• Three: increase resilience to the climate crisis, conflicts and other disruptions to supply chains;
• Four: ensure decent employment; and
• Five: ensure access to safe and nutritious food and healthy diets for all.

 

Dear Colleagues,

 

The potential of agriculture cannot be realized without commitment and concrete action by governments, the private sector and all partners. We need investment and enabling policies. We need to invest in science and innovative technologies, as well as agricultural infrastructure to make agriculture more productive – we need to produce more with less.

 

We also need to realize the potential of digital agriculture. With its technical, professional expertise, and together with our partners as part of an inter-related system, FAO works to support its Members to help make their agrifood systems fit for purpose in delivering innovative solutions.

 

While there are still many challenges, we have made progress in identifying the solutions that agrifood systems can provide for the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life – to ensure that no one is left behind.

 

To accelerate progress we need to leverage cross-cutting accelerators, and FAO is focusing on four key areas:

 

First: science and innovation. Enhanced linkages across agrifood systems are needed for impact at scale, including innovations in traditional and indigenous knowledge. We need to scale up climate resilience, such as by introducing drought and heat tolerance into popular high-yielding staple food varieties. We need to increase efficiencies, including through technology and innovation for reducing food loss and waste - which could feed an additional 1.26 billion people each year, and with positive impacts on the environment and green economy.

 

Second: improved data capabilities. FAO is currently working with 63 countries that have engaged in FAO’s Hand-in-Hand initiative using the Geospatial Data Platform - an evidence-based, country-led and country-owned initiative to consolidate strengths from diverse sources and help the most vulnerable countries and populations. FAO’s “1000 Digital Villages” Initiative is a country-led, user-centered initiative that supports the dissemination and enhanced use of digital tools in agrifood systems and rural areas, enabling farmers to use digital technologies and a digital solutions platform to serve value chain development in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Furthermore, e-Agriculture for improved productivity through ICT application and relevant digital solutions, promotes Digital Farmer Services to enhance farmers' access to digital social, economic and financial services, and to support rural transformation through delivery of public services.

 

Third: finance. We need an increase in targeted and coordinated public and private financing.  At the same time, there is a need to repurpose public support to make healthy diets more affordable. Transforming agrifood systems will cost USD 4 trillion from now to 2030 in low- and middle-income countries – which amounts to USD 680 billion per year. In this context, attention should also be paid to the need to repurpose public support to agriculture away from trade and market policies and fiscal subsidies tied to production.

 

Empowerment of women and marginalized groups are essential to ensure gender equality, access to food, and social protection for all. We estimate that closing the gender gap in farm productivity and the wage gap in agrifood systems alone would increase global GDP by USD 1 trillion, Thereby reducing global food insecurity by at least 2 percentage points and the number of food-insecure people by 45 million.

 

And Fourth: governance. The establishment of inclusive agrifood systems governance mechanisms at the highest level enables holistic national food policies and strategies. Multi-stakeholder partnerships and platforms at all levels are key to breaking down silos. Due to rapid urbanization - with 70% of the world population projected to live in cities by 2050 - we need improved coordination bringing together decision-makers across the rural–urban divide, and between the city and national level.

 

Unlocking the full potential of agrifood systems can only happen if we focus on these accelerators, to help minimize trade-offs and maximize synergies.

 

Agrifood systems are part of a global interconnected big system.

 

We need to work collectively in science and innovation, data, finance and governance, and related sectors.

 

We need to better understand the challenges facing us through an agrifood systems lens. For this reason, I established the World Food Forum, which is composed of three key segments: the Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum; the Science and Innovation Forum; and the Youth Forum. Together, the World Food Forum provides a platform for sharing science and innovation, for attracting investments, and to rally the youth and Indigenous Peoples as change agents for transformation.

 

Annually, 16 October marks World Food Day that commemorates the establishment of FAO. The weeklong World Food Forum coincides with World Food Day and, since its establishment in 2021, ensures that food security and agrifood systems transformation remain high on the international development agenda, and accelerates progress towards achieving the SDGs.

 

In conclusion, I would like to once again thank His Excellency the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan for hosting this important International Conference on a topic of such critical concern to humanity.

 

Let us continue to work together in harmony as close partners, for people, planet, and prosperity, and for a better world for all leaving no one behind.

 

Thank you.