To end hunger, we need political commitment
DG video message in the conference.
14 November 2018, Fujairah, United Arab Emirates – We can end hunger and malnutrition during our lifetime if we can have the political commitment to do so, and for that to happen, we need bold and urgent actions, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva said today at the 6th Arab Conference for Investment in Food Security.
“We need to shift diets and patterns of consumption towards more healthy food,” he added in a video message to the conference taking place in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates on 14 – 15 November 2018.
Different forms of malnutrition - micronutrient deficiencies and obesity - are on the rise in the Arab region. “This is proof that our food systems are not working well,” added Graziano da Silva.
He stated that while hunger is increasing, obesity has become an epidemic as well, causing considerable damages to people’s health and lives and putting stress on the health system and public finance. The prevalence of obesity among the adult population in the Near East and North Africa is among the highest: 26.7 percent.
The Director General reaffirmed that in order to achieve zero hunger and end all forms of malnutrition, we need to end conflicts and focus on the sustainable development agenda in the Arab region with the support of public-private partnerships.
Public-private partnerships are pivotal in promoting healthy diets, building sustainable and inclusive food systems, harnessing the potential of the growing technologies and innovations in agriculture, and creating decent employment opportunities for the youth, he said.
Agriculture initiatives of the UAE
In a session highlighting global projects and pioneer agricultural initiatives of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Abdessalam Ould Ahmed, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa said, “FAO has always had a special relation with the UAE, which has to do with Sheikh Zayed’s vision on agriculture and its intrinsic link to civilization.”
“The massive challenge of Arab food security requires massive, urgent and concerted actions,” he added.
Ould Ahmed highlighted FAO’s three regional initiatives being implemented in the region and the UAE: Water Scarcity, Small-scale Family Farming, and Building Resilience for Enhanced Food Security and Nutrition.
“The initiatives address the intertwined challenges of water scarcity, land degradation, lagging rural sectors and agriculture transformation as well as rising food insecurity and malnutrition,” he added. “They aim to support a shift in policies and strategies towards more sustainable and inclusive food systems.”
Through the regional initiatives, FAO implements a comprehensive resilience-building framework whereby short-term emergency support is complemented with medium-term recovery interventions with significant results.
“The initiatives benefit from a vast partnership with international and regional organizations. Public-private partnerships play a key role as well in FAO’s programmes in the region as do partnerships with civil society organizations,” said the Assistant Director-General.
FAO in the conference
In contribution to the conference, FAO also provided its expert inputs to several sessions focusing on a variety of topics related to food security.
FAO highlighted that investing in livestock is a driving force for food security, nutrition and sustainable development.
The Organization also encouraged private investments in food safety and quality as a tool to increase market access and the value of agricultural products.
The conference
The 6th Arab Conference for Investment in Food Security is under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah, and organized by the Union of Arab Chambers.
The conference is highlighting the importance of investing in “smart farming”, given that it has promising potential to achieve sustainable agriculture while overcoming the constraints of the limited resources and climate change in the Arab region.
Arab countries will be given the opportunity to discuss national strategies for smart farming and explore new opportunities to mobilize private investments to respond to the needs and priorities of achieving food security in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).