Tokyo Nutrition for Growth Summit Opening Statement
by Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
07/12/2021
Tokyo Nutrition for Growth Summit
Opening Statement
Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
As prepared
7 December 2021
Excellences,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
First, I would like to commend all efforts made by organizers and Japanese government
to host this important event during the challenging time.
1. Better Nutrition is one of the four fundamental aspirations (4 Betters) from FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31 guiding FAO’s support to Members in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.
2. Along with Better Production, a Better Environment, and a Better Life, Better Nutrition will contribute reaching the objectives of transformation of agrifood systems.
3. More efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable agrifood systems are critical for healthy diets and improved nutrition.
4. The latest 2021 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World Report re-confirmed that we are not on track to meet our commitments to end world hunger and all forms of malnutrition by 2030.
5. About 3 billion people are unable to access healthy diets globally.
6. The COVID-19 pandemic has made the situation even more daunting.
7. However, there is also positive news!
8. The mid-term review of the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition revealed that advocacy efforts on the importance of nutrition, healthy diets, and agrifood systems for human and planetary health are showing results.
9. Global attention to the need for transformation of agrifood systems and sustainable structures that they can produce safe and nutritious food for all is high.
10. Nutrition has been discussed during the UN Food Systems Summit, the G20 and COP26, COP15, etc.
11. Today, we have gathered to pledge our nutrition commitments for growth in the future.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
12. FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022-31 supports the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the transformation of agrifood systems.
13. Good nutrition underpinned by healthy diets, and lead to healthy security of human being with robust and fit-for-purpose agrifood systems.
14. In this context, FAO’s 4 pledge commitments are aligned with our Strategic Framework 2022-31:
15. First, FAO will ensure that at least 90% of the new FAO action plans related to agrifood systems during the period 2022-2025 will include enabling access to healthy diets as a priority.
16. Second, by 2025 FAO will increase the percentage of nutrition-sensitive projects and programs by 50% - and will maintain or increase this value through 2030.
17. Third, to support the reduction of food loss and waste and to increase availability of nutritious foods by 2025, FAO will support Members, upon their request, in the implementation of the Voluntary Code of Conduct for Food Loss and Waste Reduction.
18. Fourth, by 2025 at least 90% of FAO country offices will be actively providing support to Members in their efforts to achieve FAO's vision of a world where all people have access to healthy diets from agrifood systems!
19. Thank you.