Eurasian Peoples' Assembly: ally in the transformation of agri-food systems

“On behalf of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and its Deputy Director General Vladimir Rakhmanin, I convey to you my warmest congratulations on the 5th anniversary of the Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly and my wishes for successful work,” said Oleg Kobiakov, Director of the FAO Liaison Office with the Russian Federation, at the International Forum of People’s Diplomacy. 

“The FAO Moscow Office works closely with the Assembly on a wide range of issues related to the Sustainable Development Agenda. 

The Eurasian Peoples' Assembly has established itself as a representative, authoritative, ambitious and very active body of international cooperation. Those were such partnerships, which are now embodied in the Eurasian Peoples' Assembly, that the authors of the document “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” had in mind when they formulated Goal 17 – “Strengthening the means of achieving sustainable development and revitalizing the mechanisms of global partnership for sustainable development”.  

I would like to highlight the great contribution made by the Assembly to preparing and holding the National and Independent Dialogues in the Russian Federation prior to and following the 2021 Food Systems Summit. It is no exaggeration to say that the Eurasian Peoples' Assembly in the Eurasian space is the most representative partner of our organization. We are looking forward to further develop this cooperation, provide methodological assistance that FAO is called upon to accord as a knowledge-focused organization with a mandate in the field of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, food security, rural development, ecosystem restoration, And also to offer our assistance to the “large” UN in the work we are doing together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals with other specialized agencies of the United Nations. 

Partnerships are at the heart of FAO’s mission to build consensus for a sustainable world without hunger. The effectiveness of our organization as a forum for policy-making and as a unique centre of the latest achievements, knowledge and technical expertise depends to a large extent on its ability to forge and develop strategic partnerships with all those involved in food and agriculture. 

The complex nature of food security and nutrition challenges calls for increased synergy and coherence in policy formulation and implementation across all sectors, with the focus on more strategic investments. Our cooperation with the Assembly is exactly such an investment. 

Dear friends!

Today, we face an unprecedented food crisis in its numerous manifestations. According to the Global Report on Food Crises, the number of people facing severe food insecurity has risen to nearly 193 million in 2021, which is 40 million more than in 2020, and this figure is only going to grow this year. Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia and South Sudan have faced the threat of mass starvation. 

The recent increase in hunger is due to several factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis. 

However, conflicts are still the only major factor contributing to the emergence of global hunger. Between 2018 and 2021, the number of people in crisis situations in countries where a conflict has been the root cause of severe food insecurity increased by 88 percent amounting to more than 139 million people. 

The war between Russia and Ukraine, two of the world’s largest suppliers of wheat and sunflower oil, is leading to an interruption in export and logistics, and seriously affects food availability. Moreover, the rise in energy and fertilizer prices threatens the next harvest all around the world. According to the last scenario developed by FAO, this conflict may lead to another 18.8 million people living in a chronic malnutrition by 2023.

The share occupied by Russia and Ukraine in world grain market exceeds 30 percent. Last year, Russia exported 35 tonnes, Ukraine – about 12 million. There are countries that essentially receive all their food grain and forage from our two countries. Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and Mongolia almost completely cover their needs with grain supplies from Russia. Among African countries, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Congo, Namibia, Rwanda and Togo strongly depend on Russian grain import. Countries that most of all rely on purchasing both Ukraine and Russian grain are Ghana, Israel, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Libya, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somali, Sudan, Tunis, and Ethiopia.  

The uncertainty surrounding the conflict has provoked a significant surge in prices in world markets, especially in wheat, corn, and oil crops prices. According to the FAO Food Price Index (FFPI), international export price assessments for staple food have risen almost continuously since the second half of 2020 and in March 2022 they reached an all-time peak in nominal terms. Although, prices for all product groups included in the FFPI increased in the second half of 2020, cereal and vegetable oil world markets were most affected. 

In response to growing problems related to national payment balance due to food price rising, FAO has proposed to create a global Food Import Finance Facility (FIFF) for helping poorer countries cope with this sharp rise in prices.

The activity of the Food Import Finance Facility, which would complement existing facilities within the UN system, will be aimed at low and lower middle-income countries that are net food importers, and therefore it will be based exclusively on meeting their basic needs.

I would like to particularly highlight the importance, in the current situation, of improving food production at the country’s level by providing money and crucial resources for growing cereals and vegetables, as well as feed and water treatment and vaccination services for livestock conservation in order to prevent an acceleration in the trend of severe food insecurity in the coming months and years.

It is necessary to foster agri-food supply and value chains. We call upon the global community to allocate additional resources to support agricultural production in tough conditions and more actively invest in the development of innovations and new technologies, especially in relation to water management, and to increase the transparency of market information systems.  

Distinguished colleagues!

The Eurasian People’s Assembly is our reliable ally in reforming agri-food systems to make them more efficient, inclusive, resilient to shocks and sustainable in order to improve production, nutrition quality, environment and life quality by respecting the principle “Leaving no one behind”.

Once again, on behalf of our Organization, let me wish you success in your future work and assure you of continued support for your undertakings in our mandate areas in the Eurasian region. 

Thank you for your attention!