Agricultural innovation can radically transform food systems
Drones are used in the Philippines to assess damages to agriculture in the wake of natural disasters.
©Photo: ©FAO/Veejay Villafranca
6 May 2019, Milan - Agricultural innovation can have a pivotal role in creating a world free of hunger. This was the message FAO delivered today to participants of Seeds and Chips Global Food Innovation Summit where the UN agency also showcased some of its innovative solutions for sustainable agriculture.
"Agricultural innovation is a lynchpin that can radically transform food systems, provide agri-preneurship opportunities and jobs for youth and rural women, and boost national economic growth," said FAO Deputy Director-General for Climate and Natural Resources Maria Helena Semedo, who spoke at a SDG-focused session at the event in Milan.
Semedo also stressed the need to move to more sustainable agriculture food systems by changing how we grow, share, prepare and consume our food, calling on governments to establish rules and standards to promote healthy and nutritious foods.
"The world needs a global pact against obesity that embraces traditional and local foods. Adopting global healthy diet standards would also curb the proliferation of poor diets that have seeped into our modern lifestyles," said Semedo.
"We really have come a long way. But somehow, our own progress seems to be our downfall-we learned how to cultivate food, but the abundance of what is on our table is slowly killing us. Unhealthy diets are the world's number one cause of disease, disability and death," she added.
Semedo especially lauded the important role of family farmers who, though often poor and food insecure, produce over 80 percent of the world's food and manage three-quarters of the planet's natural resources. FAO is drawing attention to their critical role in feeding the world as it prepares to launch the UN Decade of Family Farming later this month.
Innovative solutions for Zero Hunger
FAO believes that innovation is the central driving force for achieving a world free from hunger and malnutrition. This doesn't only involve the use of new technology; instead, it can also relate to the use of new or existing products, processes or ways of organizing to increase effectiveness, competitiveness and resilience.
At the 5th edition of the Seeds and Chips Summit (6-9 May), which brings together more than 350 companies and organizations, and has over 50 sessions and events, the UN agency is showcasing several such innovative agricultural solutions.
Some have already successfully addressed an issue, whilst others are recognized as bringing significant benefits to farmers and herders, and are being explored more. All are aimed at boosting food security, sustainable development and rural development.
These include:
Focus on family farmers
On 7 May, FAO will lead an interactive session focused on the role of family farmers - ‘Innovation for Zero Hunger: Harnessing the potential of family farmers'.
FAO, together with the other Rome-based UN food agencies, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the World Food Programme, is also part of the Summit's traveling exhibition Goals on Tour - a global campaign aimed at creating greater public awareness and support for the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG2, which focuses on ending hunger.