UNGA 76 Second Committee: Agriculture Development, Food Security and Nutrition (FAO Statement)

Chair, thank you for giving me the floor.

• In 2020, up to 811 million people faced hunger, this is 161 million more than in 2019. More than 3 billion people in the world cannot afford healthy diets, while at the same time, fourteen percent of the food we do manage to produce is lost and even more wasted.
• Unless we take urgent action, around 660 million people may still face hunger in 2030.
• The world is not on track to achieve targets for any of the hunger and nutrition indicators by 2030.

Chair

• To achieve the food security and nutrition for all, we must recognize the interconnectedness of the economic, social, and environmental impacts of our world’s agri-food systems.
• We need MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind to achieve the SDGs by 2030.
• Agri-food systems are the largest economic system, measured in terms of employment, livelihoods, and planetary impact. Globally, they employ 4 billion people, directly and indirectly.
• When the UN Secretary-General announced to convene a UN Food Systems Summit, he set in place one of the most inclusive UN processes for the transformation of our agri-food systems to achieve the SDGs.
• He called on the world to keep its promises for a better future through food systems that work for people, planet and prosperity. He reiterated that we do not need new goals; we need to move boldly – now – to implement the transformative actions needed to achieve the goals we have.

Chair

• Ending chronic hunger and all forms of malnutrition is reachable by 2030.
• The FAO Director-General underlined that efforts to transform our agri-food systems present many unique opportunities for the reduction of poverty and inequality, and for more healthy diets.
• We must bring together and accelerate innovation, technology, data and governance and institutions, and evidence must guide how to prioritize policy actions and investments.
• There are low-cost, high-impact interventions that can help hundreds of millions of people get rid of hunger. If we can attract an annual investment of about $40 to $50 billion until 2030 to fund targeted interventions — like agricultural R&D, innovation, digital agriculture, reduction of food loss and waste, literacy improvement for women, and social protection programs, etc.
• The right combination is fundamental, will bring complementarities, and generate significant cost savings!
• This will require strategic and inclusive partnerships, including the public and private sector, civil society, academia, women, youth - especially young farmers - Indigenous Peoples and vulnerable groups.
• Together with IFAD and WFP and the wider UN System, FAO will take a leadership role to ensure that the Summit’s follow-up catalyzes action and brings together the expertise and knowledge from all sectors to support the post Summit implementation.
• FAO’s technical expertise and investment support can put knowledge into action. We will bring on board the investment leaver for action.