UNGA 74: Sustainable Development

 

74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
Second Committee
Agenda item 19. Sustainable Development

Carla Mucavi, Director, FAO Liaison Office with the United Nations in New York

 

 

The Global Sustainable Development Report 2019, identified Food Systems and nutrition patterns as one of six entry points for achieving structural transformation at the necessary scale and speed to attain the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. 

 

Transforming agriculture and food systems remain the most inclusive tool to end hunger and poverty.

 

 Agriculture and food systems should produce enough  and nutritious food for all in a sustainable way ; 2.  support livelihoods, particularly for  small scale food producers as well as small and medium enterprises;  assuring food availability at affordable prices; reduce stress and impact on the environment, with a view to improve water management, reverse biodiversity and land degradation;  prioritize better nutrition and healthy diets and  must be inclusive, especially for women and youth, all along the food supply chain.

 

Innovation and technology are also game changers, especially in rural economies, offering new  opportunities to small scale food producers  particularly youth.

 

 Madame Chairperson

After decades of steady decline, world hunger trends reverted in 2015, with over 820 million hungry in the world. At the same time, increasing pressure on our land, water, forests, oceans and the continuing depletion of biodiversity and genetic resources, are being intensified by climate change and weather shocks. The consequences are particularly harsh for rural and mountain communities, and disproportionally affect Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.

 

While food insecurity persists, overweight and obesity increases at an alarming rate, both in developed and developing countries. Often food insecurity and overweight coexist in the same household – a trend particularly seen in SIDS whose dependence on often-imported ultra-processed foods has led to worrisome levels  of  obesity, a leading cause of Non Communicable Diseases. To address these challenges, FAO works with partners to implement the Global Action Programme on Food Security and Nutrition, directly contributing to SAMOA Pathway, as well as promoting the Blue Growth Initiative.

 

Similarly, mountain populations are very vulnerable to food insecurity and climate change impacts. Indeed, about half of the world’s 1.1 billion rural mountain dwellers are food insecure. Highly dependent on agriculture from crops and livestock to fisheries  and forestry - for their food and livelihoods, mountain communities are particularly prone to the impacts of natural hazards, made worse by lower access to and availability of services and infrastructure.

 

To address the challenges coordination and participation of all stakeholders would be essential. The UN Decade on Ecosystem restoration and the UN Decade on Family Farmers offer a platform for accelerated and coordinated actions to achieve sustainable development.  

 

Let us forge a true partnership strengthened by our joint goal of reaching the SDGs and creating a Zero Hunger world.

 

Thank you.