Launch of the FAO Report on “The impacts of disasters on agriculture and food security, 2021”

Launch of the FAO Report on
“The impacts of disasters on agriculture and food security, 2021”

Remarks by the Director-General

18 March 2021

As prepared

 

Distinguished Panellists,

Dear Colleagues,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. Assessing the impact of medium to large scale natural hazards and disasters on the agriculture sector is of great importance.

2. I am therefore pleased to launch the FAO Report on “The impacts of disasters on agriculture and food security, 2021” today.

3. The findings of the Report are expected to support national and international efforts to reduce damage and losses and strengthen the resilience of the agriculture sector.

4. The 2021 edition makes a powerful case for investing in resilience and risk reduction, by showing how big the impact of different types of disasters is on agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture and forestry.

5. The Report demonstrates the importance of basing the design of policies and programmes for enhancing resilience and managing risks on solid evidence.

6. High-quality and comprehensive data is essential to make sound policy decisions and catalyse the development of resilient agri-food systems.

7. The Report shows that, particularly in low and lower-middle income countries, agriculture absorbs a disproportionate share of the damages and losses caused by disasters.

8. The growing frequency and intensity of extreme events, along with the systemic nature of risks, are overturning people’s lives and jeopardizing our agri-food systems.

9. The most direct impact of disasters on agriculture is a reduced production, which ripples along the entire value chain, placing all dimensions of food security and nutrition at risk.

10. This can undermine economic progress of entire communities, nations and regions, especially those at the lowest economic tier.

11. Addressing these mounting challenges is compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic today.

12. The economic and social impacts of the pandemic have disrupted nearly all aspects of life; agricultural livelihoods have been particularly hard hit, especially smallholder farmers and daily workers, and may push even more families and communities into deeper distress.

Ladies and gentlemen,

13. Disaster impact is extensive and requires immediate efforts to better assess and understand its dynamics in order to mitigate its costs.

14. Increased risk exposure has become the ‘new normal’, and the impact of climate change is set to exacerbate these challenges even further.

15. The 2021 FAO Report constitutes an important knowledge solution addressing these problems.

16. Gathering systematic data and information in order to reduce knowledge gaps can help foster a better understanding of how to make agriculture more resilient to upcoming disasters.

17. FAO’s approach and methodology for assessing damage and loss in agriculture can help identify the impact of extreme events and address weaknesses, bottlenecks and vulnerabilities in agri-food systems so they can be strengthened and transformed.

18. The country-led and country-owned FAO Hand-in-Hand Initiative uses data and modelling to provide a comprehensive view of economic opportunities.

19. It aims to improve the targeting and tailoring of support, including finance, investment and policy interventions, to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and other disasters on national agri-food sectors.

20. Building resilience and reducing disaster risk is not only an end in itself, but also a means of achieving the goals of eradicating extreme poverty, ending hunger and ensuring food security and nutrition.

21. The Report we are presenting today also aims at promoting international coordination.

22. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction has set the global agenda for developing disaster risk reduction strategies, making risk-informed policy decisions, and allocating resources to prevent emerging risks.

23. The FAO approach to assessing damage and loss from disaster contributes to the monitoring effort of the Sendai framework.

24. In this context, the ability of governments, international organizations, civil society and the private sector to operate and cooperate in fragile and disaster-prone contexts, is a defining feature for meeting global targets and achieving resilience and sustainability.

25. I am pleased to see that the Report we are launching today provides essential knowledge and a solid basis to coordinate effective global action that contributes to better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life.

26. Thank you.