Women at the forefront of global food security discussions
Women have a special role to play in ensuring the food security of their families, said FAO’s Director-General Elect José Graziano da Silva at a panel discussion hosted by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
© Michael Gross
Speaking in New York during the event Women and agriculture: A conversation on improving global food security, FAO Director-General Elect José Graziano da Silva called attention to the critical contributions women make to agriculture, food security and the well-being of their families and communities. “Mothers assure that ‘food first’ is not an empty slogan”, said Graziano, highlighting women’s vital role in producing and distributing food within their homes.
Hosted by the United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the panel discussion took place on September 19, 2011 in New York, during the 66th Session of the UN General Assembly.
In her opening remarks, the US Secretary of State echoed the conclusions of FAO’s latest State of Food and Agriculture report. “If all farmers, both men and women, had access to the same resources, agricultural output could increase by 20-30 percent. That would feed an additional 150 million people every year,” she said.