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FAO Liaison Office with the United Nations in New York

UNGA 76 Second Committee: RBA Statement on Eradication of poverty and Agriculture Development, Food Security and Nutrition

Statement

07/10/2021

76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
Second Committee

Agenda Items 24 and 26. Eradication of poverty and Agriculture Development, Food Security and Nutrition

Joint Statement by FAO, IFAD and WFP

Delivered by Qu Guangzhou, Director of the FAO Liaison Office with the United Nations in New York

   

Madam Deputy Chairperson, Distinguished delegates 

  1. The Rome-Based Agencies – FAO, IFAD and WFP – are committed to working together for a Zero Hunger world. We are working to achieve 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. 

  1. The main drivers of food insecurity and hunger are conflicts, weather extremes and climate change, economic downturns and inequalities  

  1. The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing food insecurity. As a result, poverty, hunger and malnutrition are on the rise. In 2020, as many as 161 million more people went hungry compared to 2019. And around 3 billion people cannot afford healthy diets. 

  1. I would like to recall that the 2021 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report proposes six pathways to transform food systems to address these challenges:  

  • Integrate humanitarian, development and peacebuilding policies in conflict-affected areas  

  • Scale up climate resilience; 

  • Increase economic resilience; 

  • Lower the cost of nutritious foods; 

  • Address poverty and inequality; and 

  • Strengthen food environments and shift to sustainable consumption patterns. 

 

Distinguished delegates, 

  1. With the UN Food Systems Summit behind us, it is time to turn momentum into action and work together to follow through on transformative pathways, based on national priorities and conditions, that deliver better outcomes for the people and the planet. 

  1. FAO, IFAD and WFP, together with the wider UN System, will take a leadership role to ensure that the Summit’s follow-up catalyzes action in the five areas outlined by the Secretary-General:  

  • Nourish All People,  

  • Boost Nature-based Solutions,  

  • Advance Equitable Livelihoods, Decent Work & Empowered Communities,  

  • Build Resilience to Vulnerabilities, Shocks and Stresses, and  

  • Support Means of Implementation. 

 

Madam Deputy Chairperson, Distinguished Delegates, 

  1. As we speak, we find ourselves at the outset of the Decade of Action.  

  1. We know we need systemic change across our agri-food systems to end hunger and malnutrition in all its forms, putting rural lives and agricultural livelihoods at the heart of our efforts. We know we need to step up our action. Now.   

  1. I would like to reiterate the commitment of the RBAs to build on the momentum created by the Food Systems Summit in order to work together, in sincere unison, in the implementation of the Summit outcomes.  

 

Thank you for your attention.