FAO Newsroom RSS http://www.fao.org/news/newsroom-home/en/ News from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization en FAO Newsroom RSS Newsfeed Export http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 2009 FAO FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) Contribution of forests to food security and nutrition needs more attention Governments, civil society and the private sector should ensure and strengthen the contributions of forests, trees and agroforestry systems to food security and nutrition, said participants in the first-ever International Conference on Forests for Food Security and Nutrition (13-15 May), organized by FAO. 16 May 2013, Rome - Governments, civil society and the private sector should ensure and strengthen the contributions of forests, trees and agroforestry systems to food security and nutrition, said participants in the first-ever International Conference on Forests for Food Security and Nutrition (13-15 May), organized by FAO.

Globally, millions of people depend on forests for their livelihoods - directly through the consumption and sale of foods harvested in forests, and indirectly through forest-related employment and income generation, forest ecosystem services, and forest biodiversity.

Forest foods, such as leaves, seeds, nuts, honey, fruits, mushrooms, insects and other forest animals, have been important components of rural diets for millennia. An estimated 2.6 billion people rely on fuelwood, including charcoal, for cooking their food.

Incentives for small-scale forest producers

The conference participants agreed that small-scale forest producers should be encouraged to strengthen their involvement in agroforestry, tree‐growing, small‐scale wood processing and the provision of ecosystem services.

Microfinance loans to small and medium-sized forest enterprises in many cases have resulted in gains  in family incomes and better health, nutrition and quality of life in rural areas, especially when microloans are given to women.

Improved access to trees and land

The potential economic and environmental gains from secure land tenure are substantial, and tree tenure can also lead to fundamental improvements in land management. The conference stressed the need for improving access rights to trees and land to create significant incentives for farmers to engage in agroforestry, for example, by applying the Voluntary Guidelines for the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests, which were recently adopted by the Committee on World Food Security.

Forest ecosystem services foster food production

The conference highlighted the essential role of ecosystem services provided by forests and trees to agricultural production, which include protecting water and soil resources, contributing to soil development processes, including increasing soil fertility, regulating climate and providing habitat for wild pollinators and predators of agricultural pests.

Forested wetlands and mangrove forests help protect coastal areas from flooding, thereby increasing the stability of food production in coastal lands. Forests also play vital roles in riverine and coastal fisheries, which are often particularly important to poor communities. Mountain forests provide vital ecosystem services, particularly "blue" fresh water for downstream forests and dependent communities.

Intersectoral cooperation

According to the conference recommendations, it is essential to ensure that relevant sector policies, including those on agriculture, forests and trees, as well as food security and nutrition, are coordinated across sectors, and that all stakeholders, from forest‐dependent communities to ministries, are actively involved in their development and implementation.

More than 400 participants attended the conference, including governments, civil-society organizations, local communities, donors and international agencies from more than 100 countries. 

Conference participants further encouraged FAO to promote the conference recommendations to the next sessions of the Committee on World Food Security and the Committee on Forestry, as well as to the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) to be held at FAO headquarters in Rome on 19-21 November 2014.

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/176221/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/176221/icode/ Wed, 15 May 2013 22:00:00 GMT Slow Food and FAO join forces FAO and the international Slow Food organization agreed today to develop joint actions to improve the livelihoods of smallholders and others working in rural areas. Under a three-year Memorandum of Agreement signed here the two organizations will join forces to promote more inclusive food and agriculture systems at local, national and international levels. 15 May 2013, Rome - FAO and the international Slow Food organization agreed today to develop joint actions to improve the livelihoods of smallholders and others working in rural areas.

Under a three-year Memorandum of Agreement signed here the two organizations will  join forces  to promote more inclusive food and agriculture systems at local, national and international levels.

Actions will focus mainly on joint advocacy campaigns, strengthening local, regional and  global networks and raising awareness of global initiatives such as the International Year Family Farming in 2014. Actions will highlight the value of local foods and neglected food crops while also targeting market access for small-scale producers, enhancing conservation and use of biodiversity, reducing food losses and food waste, and improving animal welfare.

Signing the document for FAO, Director-General José Graziano da Silva said: "Slow Food and FAO share the same vision of a sustainable and hunger-free world, safeguarding biodiversity for future generations. Today's agreement, providing for a number of important joint initiatives, brings us a step closer to that objective."

On behalf of Slow Food, President Carlo Petrini said: "Collaboration between FAO and Slow Food stems from our common purpose in promoting the wealth of local gastronomic traditions, in the defence of food biodiversity and in support of smallholder farmers and producers." 

Valuing traditional food

Activities under the agreement  include the protection of traditional food products and the promotion of culinary traditions as well as the cultural heritage of rural communities.

Specifically, Slow Food can help produce inventories of local, indigenous and underutilized species that are potentially important to  food security, thus supporting FAO's role in revaluing and promoting neglected crops.

FAO and Slow Food will work together to facilitate market access for smallholders through strengthened producers' organizations and cooperatives. Slow Food can support producers to better organize and shorten the food supply chain, including marketing, labeling and packaging, thus guaranteeing fair prices for both producers and consumers. 

The two organizations will promote animal welfare as a primary element to add value to animal products and boost incomes for farmers and others in the food supply chain. Slow Food's role here would be to develop and promote specific guidelines and tools for the implementation of best practices.

Collaboration with ongoing FAO initiatives

FAO will identify synergies and areas of collaboration within ongoing initiatives, possibly including the Hunger-Free Africa initiative grouping the African Union, FAO and Brazil's Instituto Lula. This initiative aims to eradicate hunger from the continent starting with four countries - Angola, Ethiopia, Malawi and Niger.

Another possible area for collaboration  is  support to rural women, through the ongoing Dimitra project run by FAO, the European Commission and Belgium. This participatory information and communication project highlights women's key role in food production so that their interests are better taken into consideration.

An additional  possibility is the development of toolkits for the international Education of Rural People (ERP) Partnership, which aims to remove existing constraints and  ensure education and skills training for all rural people.

Slow Food is an international, non-profit grassroots organization that aims to promote quality food produced and distributed in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner. It has over 100 000 members worldwide and is active in 150 countries. Thanks to its projects and initiatives Slow Food involves millions of people worldwide.]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/176076/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/176076/icode/ Tue, 14 May 2013 22:00:00 GMT Forest products critical to fight hunger - including insects Forests, trees on farms and agroforestry are critical in the fight against hunger and should be better integrated into food security and land use policies, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva said today at the International Conference on Forests for Food Security and Nutrition in Rome (13-15 May). Rome, 13 May 2013 – Forests, trees on farms and agroforestry are critical in the fight against hunger and should be better integrated into food security and land use policies, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva said today at the International Conference on Forests for Food Security and Nutrition in Rome (13-15 May).

“Forests contribute to the livelihoods of more than a billion people, including many of the world’s neediest. Forests provide food, fuel for cooking, fodder for animals and income to buy food,” Graziano da Silva said.

“Wild animals and insects are often the main protein source for people in forest areas, while leaves, seeds, mushrooms, honey and fruits provide minerals and vitamins, thus ensuring a nutritious diet.”

“But forests and agroforestry systems are rarely considered in food security and land use policies. Often, rural people do not have secure access rights to forests and trees, putting their food security in danger. The important contributions forests can make to the food security and nutrition of rural people should be better recognized,” Graziano da Silva said.

Frittered critters – wild and farm-raised insects

One major and readily available source of nutritious and protein-rich food that comes from forests are insects, according to a new study FAO launched at the forests for food security and nutrition conference. It is estimated that insects form part of the traditional diets of at least 2 billion people. Insect gathering and farming can offer employment and cash income, for now mostly at the household level but also potentially in industrial operations.

An astounding array of creatures

With about 1 million known species, insects account for more than half of all living organisms classified so far on the planet.

According to FAO’s research, done in partnership with Wageningen University in the Netherlands, more than 1900 insect species are consumed by humans worldwide. Globally, the most consumed insects are: beetles (31 percent); caterpillars (18 percent); bees, wasps and ants (14 percent); and grasshoppers, locusts and crickets (13 percent). Many insects are rich in protein and good fats and high in calcium, iron and zinc. Beef has an iron content of 6 mg per 100 g of dry weight, while the iron content of locusts varies between 8 and 20 mg per 100 g of dry weight, depending on the species and the kind of food they themselves consume.

First steps for the squeamish

“We are not saying that people should be eating bugs,” said Eva Muller, Director of FAO’s Forest Economic Policy and Products Division, which co-authored “Edible insects: Future prospects for food and feed security”.

“We are saying that insects are just one resource provided by forests, and insects are pretty much untapped for their potential for food, and especially for feed,” Muller explained.

Farming insects sustainably could help avoid over-harvesting, which could affect more prized species. Some species, such as meal worms, are already produced at commercial levels, since they are used in niche markets such as pet food, for zoos and in recreational fishing.

If production were to be further automated, this would eventually bring costs down to a level where industry would profit from substituting fishmeal, for example, with insect meal in livestock feed. The advantage would be an increase in fish supplies available for human consumption.

Bugs get bigger on less

Because they are cold-blooded, insects don’t use energy from feed to maintain body temperature. On average, insects use just 2 kg of feed to produce 1 kilo of insect meat. Cattle, at the other end of the spectrum, require 8 kg of feed to produce 1 kg of beef.

In addition, insects produce a fraction of emissions such as methane, ammonia, climate-warming greenhouse gases and manure, all of which contaminate the environment. In fact, insects can be used to break down waste, assisting in the composting processes that deliver nutrients back to the soil while also diminishing foul odours.

Enabling policies lacking

However, legislation in most industrialized nations forbids the actual feeding of waste materials and slurry or swill to animals, even though this would be the material that insects normally feed on. Further research would be necessary, especially as regards the raising of insects on waste streams. But it is widely understood by scientists that insects are so biologically different from mammals that it is highly unlikely that insect diseases could be transmitted to humans.

Regulations often also bar using insects in food for human consumption, although with a growing number of novel food stores and restaurants cropping up in developed countries, it seems to be largely tolerated.

As with  other types of food, hygienic production, processing and food preparation will be important to avoid the growth of bacteria and other micro-organisms that could affect human health. Food safety standards can be expanded to include insects and insect-based products, and quality control standards along the production chain will be key to creating consumer confidence in feed and food containing insects or derived from insects.

“The private sector is ready to invest in insect farming. We have huge opportunities before us,” said Paul Vantomme, one of the authors of the report. “But until there is clarity in the legal sphere, no major business is going to take the risk to invest funds when the laws remains unclear or actually hinders development of this new sector,” he explained.

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/175922/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/175922/icode/ Mon, 13 May 2013 09:00:00 GMT Extraordinary UN conference takes historic strides to strengthen chemical safety globally The three conventions that govern chemicals and hazardous waste safety at the global level concluded their first ever jointly held meetings of the parties late Friday night in Geneva. The historic meeting, attended by nearly two thousand participants from 170 countries, as well as 80 Ministers, adopted 50 separate decisions aimed at strengthening protection against hazardous chemicals and waste. 11 May 2013, Geneva - The three conventions that govern chemicals and hazardous waste safety at the global level concluded their first ever jointly held meetings of the parties late Friday night in Geneva. The historic meeting, attended by nearly two thousand participants from 170 countries, as well as 80 Ministers, adopted 50 separate decisions aimed at strengthening protection against hazardous chemicals and waste.

The three legally autonomous conventions had convened the joint meeting of the conferences of the parties to strengthen cooperation and collaboration between the conventions, with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of their activities on the ground. Each convention then continued individually over the two-week period to deal with its own specific topics of the global chemicals and waste agenda before returning in a joint session at the end of the week to finalize their outcomes.

The meeting culminated in a ministerial segment on 9 and 10 May 2013 dedicated to the theme of strengthening synergies between the conventions at national, regional and global level. The ministerial segment was joined by Swiss Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Director-General José Graziano da Silva, and Global Environment Facility (GEF) CEO and Chairperson Naoko Ishii.

The global agency leaders pledged to deepen cooperation and collaboration as part of a broader effort to raise the profile of chemicals and waste issues, promote green growth and alleviate poverty.

At its conclusion, the joint meeting acclaimed the “Geneva Statement on the Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste”. The Geneva Statement welcomed the UNEP-led consultative process on financing options for chemicals and waste that has considered the need for heightened efforts to increase the political priority accorded to sound management of chemicals and waste.

In a press conference following the ministerial segment, Mr. Steiner called the conferences of the parties “a unique historic event coming at a time of unprecedented change and progress in the arena of global environmental governance. The strengthening of UNEP and the synergies process of chemicals and waste multilateral environmental agreements are complementary parts of the ongoing reform to fortify the environmental dimension of sustainable development.”

Ms. Ishii spoke of the challenges countries face protecting the planet's critical ecosystems from contamination by hazardous chemicals and waste and of GEF support for strategies to overcome them. “At this critical juncture, the Global Environment Facility is committed to its financial support to help countries address these important challenges in three ways,” said Ms. Ishii. “Assisting them in their efforts to mainstream sound chemicals management in national agendas, creating an integrated GEF chemicals and wastes focal area, and expanding engagement with the private sector.”


FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva said that in many countries intensive crop production has depleted agriculture’s natural resource base, jeopardizing future productivity. “To fight hunger and eradicate poverty, we will need to find more sustainable ways to produce 60 percent more food by 2050,” he said. However, he recognized that chemical pesticides would continue to be part of farming in many parts of the world in future.

“The challenge is to enable countries to manage pesticides safely, to use the right quantity, at the right time and in the right way and also to apply alternatives to hazardous pesticides. Because when we don’t, pesticides continue to pose a serious risk to human health and the environment and will eventually end up as waste. Today, half a million tons of obsolete pesticides are scattered around the developing world,” he said.

“Around 70 percent of the chemicals addressed by the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions are pesticides, and many are used in agriculture. It is in the best interest of all countries to ensure that the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions can work together, effectively and efficiently, to address various aspects of the chemical life cycle.”

The joint meetings of the conferences of the parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions also reviewed the impact of the arrangements put in place by governments in 2011 to strengthen synergies among the treaties.

The parties endorsed the organization of the Secretariat, and adopted a programme of work and budget individual and for joint activities of three conventions in 2014-2015. ”The parties have agreed to strengthen capacity building and technical assistance for countries by investing the savings realized over the past two years into an enhanced technical assistance programme that better meets the needs of developing countries and countries with economies in transition” said Jim Willis, Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions. “In an era of financial austerity, we have learned through synergies how to deliver more to parties while living within the economic limits faced by Governments today.”

“Much of the success of this synergies meeting is owed to the outstanding cooperation and inspired leadership of the three presidents of the conferences, Franz Perrez of Switzerland, Magdalena Balicka of Poland and Osvaldo Álvarez-Pérez of Chile,” added Mr. Willis.

The 6th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention agreed to list hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) to Annex A to the Convention with specific exemptions for expanded polystyrene and extruded polystyrene in buildings. Efforts to adopt a non-compliance mechanism, however, did not succeed in the face of continuing disagreement on how such a mechanism might function.

Basel Convention's parties, at their 11th Conference of the Parties, took decisions to strengthen compliance with the Convention. The Parties adopted a framework for the environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes and other wastes, and agreed, over the next two years, to develop technical guidelines on transboundary movements of electronic and electrical wastes (e-waste).]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/175896/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/175896/icode/ Fri, 10 May 2013 22:00:00 GMT Strong cereal production seen in 2013 Latest indications point to strong growth in world cereal production in 2013. Assuming more normal weather conditions than in 2012, global wheat production in 2013 is expected to reach 695 million tonnes, 5.4 percent up from last year's harvest and just some 6 million tonnes short of the 2011 record level. Meanwhile FAO's Food Price Index rose one percent, or two points, in April. 9 May 2013, Rome - Strong growth is expected for global wheat, coarse grains and rice production in 2013, according to early forecasts published in the May issue of FAO's monthly Cereals Supply and Demand Brief.

Assuming more normal weather conditions than in 2012, global wheat production in 2013 is expected to reach 695 million tonnes, 5.4 percent up from last year's harvest and just some 6 million tonnes short of the 2011 record level.

And in 2013, coarse grains production  is expected to set a new record at 1 266 million tonnes - 9.3 percent up on the previous high of 1 167 million tonnes registered in 2011.

Of this total, maize is forecast  to account for about 960 million tonnes, some 10 percent up from 2012. The bulk of the increase is expected in the United States, the world's largest producer, where maize plantings are forecast to reach their highest level since 1936. Recovery from drought in the major CIS producing countries should also contribute significantly to the record global production.

Still tentatively, FAO foresees rice production in the forthcoming  2013 season to rise to 497.7 million tonnes, 16 million tonnes more than in 2012, with particularly large increases expected in India and Indonesia. 

Cereal utilization

Despite the expected production increases,  world cereal utilization is expected to stagnate in 2012/2013, constrained by rising grain prices and faltering ethanol demand. Global cereal utilization is now forecast  to be 2 332 million tonnes, roughly unchanged from the 2011/12 level.

World cereal stocks by the close of seasons ending in 2013 are forecast at 505 million tonnes, up 1 percent (5 million tonnes) from the previous forecast, but some 3 percent (16 million tonnes) below their opening levels.

A sharp fall in world cereal trade is expected in 2012/13, involving all major cereals. At 304.4 million tonnes,  it   would be almost 1 million tonnes larger than forecast last month, but still representing a  decline of about 4 percent (13 million tonnes) from 2011/12.

FAO Food Price Index up for second  month running

FAO's Food Price Index rose for the second month running in April, climbing one percent, or two points.  

As in March, last month's increase was driven almost exclusively by a sharp rise in dairy prices. Prices of most other food commodities fell. At 215.5 points the April Food Price Index was also 1 percent higher than in April 2012  It currently stands 9 percent below its peak recorded  in February 2011.

The FAO Dairy Price Index averaged 259 points in April, a rise of nearly 34 points (14.9 percent) from March and the second largest monthly change on record. The main cause was a steep decline in milk production in New Zealand, the world's largest dairy exporter.

The FAO Cereal Price Index averaged 235 points in April, down 10 points (4.1 percent) from March, but nearly 11 points (4.9 percent) over April 2012.

The FAO Oils/Fats Price Index averaged 199 points in April, down 2 points (1.5 percent) from March. Weakening energy prices and persistent concerns  about the global economy continued to weigh on the vegetable oil complex as a whole.

The FAO Meat Price Index averaged 179 points in April, a level which it has maintained since the latter part of 2012, moving within the narrow band of 177 - 179.  Nevertheless, meat prices overall remain high by historical standards.

The FAO Sugar Price Index averaged 253 points in April, down over 9 points (3.6 percent) from March. 

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/175772/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/175772/icode/ Wed, 08 May 2013 22:00:00 GMT FAO Director-General praises Cuba’s advances in the fight against hunger FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva has acknowledged Cuba’s efforts to ensure the food security of its population during a meeting with President Raul Castro. He invited the President to attend a ceremony marking the country's achievement to be held on the occasion of the next meeting of FAO's governing Conference in June 2013. 4 May 2013, Havana - FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva has acknowledged Cuba's efforts to ensure the food security of its population at a meeting on Friday with President Raul Castro. He invited the President  to a ceremony marking the achievement during  FAO's governing Conference in Rome next month.  

"Cuba is one of the 16 countries of the world which have already reached the 1996 World Food Summit's goal of halving the total number of their undernourished. This was made possible by the priority the government has set on ensuring the right to food and the policies it has implemented," said Graziano da Silva, on his first visit to the island since he took office in January 2012.

Cuba's food security  is today similar to that of developed countries, with malnutrition affecting less than 5 per cent of the population.  All the countries to have achieved the Summit's goal before the 2015 deadline will receive a certificate recognizing their achievement at a ceremony on June 16 in Rome.

The countries to have reached the goal are: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Chile, Cuba, Fiji, Georgia, Ghana, Guyana, Nicaragua, Peru, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Thailand, Uruguay, Venezuela and Viet Nam.

Eradicating hunger

The next FAO Conference is also set to approve an important change in FAO's Strategic Framework, making its first Strategic Objective no longer the reduction but the eradication  of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition.

Graziano da Silva noted that former Cuba President Fidel Castro was one of the first to champion that goal, recalling Castro's request during the 1996 World Food Summit - which set the target of halving the number of hungry - for countries to be more courageous.

Support to CELAC

The Director-General's tour of Cuba was agreed during a Summit held between the  Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the European Union in  Santiago de Chile in January 2013. On that occasion, Graziano da Silva and the President of Cuba - the country currently holding CELAC presidency - pledged to work together to maintain food safety as a political priority in the region as part of the Latin America and the Caribbean without Hunger 2025 initiative.

In this connection, a FAO mission will soon visit Cuba to discuss and advance the CELAC food security agenda.

Graziano da Silva stressed the importance of ensuring the right to food. "There can be no true development while there are 49 million people suffering from hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean," he said.

But at the same time the Director-General said he has witnessed a profound change in the region in recent years: "Before, it was difficult for a government to talk about hunger. However, today we are seeing the birth of a strong political commitment at the highest level for its eradication. This is the first, and most important step, to move forward".

The FAO chief noted that this commitment has been successfully translated into food safety policies, programmes and laws at country level, such as Brazil's Zero Hunger initiative, the Crusade Against Hunger in Mexico and the incorporation of Antigua and Barbuda into the Zero Hunger Challenge, launched by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during the Rio+20 summit.

Graziano da Silva also underlined that this was the first region in the world to commit to the total eradication of hunger through the Latin America and the Caribbean without Hunger 2025 initiative.

During his visit, he  also met with First Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Vice President Marino Murillo, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodriguez, Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Rodrigo Malmierca, Minister of Agriculture Gustavo Rodriguez, and the President of the National Association of Smallholders (ANAP).

Agriculture close to the people

He visited Vivero Alamar, an outer-city agricultural cooperative with185 employees (among them, 45 women and about 60 elderly people). "We brought agriculture to the city, close to the people, with a completely organic production," explained cooperative president Miguel Angel Salcines.

The cooperative sells more than 50 products including vegetables, fruit trees and ornamental plants, and also produces biopesticides and other biological inputs. It has benefited from two FAO Telefood projects.



]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/175579/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/175579/icode/ Fri, 03 May 2013 22:00:00 GMT Culprit behind massive shrimp die-offs in Asia unmasked In a major breakthrough, researchers at the University of Arizona have identified the causative agent behind a mysterious disease that has been decimating shrimp farms in Asia. Shrimp Early Mortality Syndrome has over the past two years caused large-scale die-offs of cultivated shrimp in Asia, where 1 million people depend on shrimp aquaculture for their livelihoods. FAO is engaging with a broad coalition of partners to organize a concerted, interregional effort to address the disease. 3 May 2013, Rome - In a major breakthrough, researchers at the University of Arizona have identified the causative agent behind a mysterious disease that has been decimating shrimp farms in Asia.

The disease, known as Shrimp Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) or Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Syndrome (AHPNS), has over the past two years caused large-scale die-offs of cultivated shrimp in several countries in Asia, where 1 million people depend on shrimp aquaculture for their livelihoods.

In 2011, the Asian region produced 3 million tonnes of shrimp, with a production value of $13.3 billion.

Infected shrimp ponds experience extremely high levels of mortality early in their growing cycle — as high as 100 percent death rates in some cases.

So far, the cause of the illness has baffled scientists, animal health authorities and farmers, making prevention and treatment difficult.

But now the identity of the culprit has been cracked: a strain of a bacterium commonly found in brackish coastal waters around the globe, Vibrio parahaemolyticus.
 
A team of researchers at the University of Arizona have managed to isolate the strain and use it to infect healthy shrimp with EMS/AHPNS — a scientific method known as Koch's Postulate and the epidemiologist's equivalent of a smoking gun.

"We succeeded in isolating a pure culture of the V. parahaemolyticus strain and reproduced the EMS/AHPNS pathology in our laboratory," said Prof. Donald V. Lightner of the Aquaculture Pathology Laboratory at the University of Arizona (UA). "The high virulence of this agent to shrimp may be due to a phage which affects this particular strain of V. parahaemolyticus," he added.

The effort to study EMS, identify its pathology and respond to EMS was supported by a coalition of partners including UA; FAO; the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE); the World Bank; the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA); the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA); the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Viet Nam; CP Foods; the Minh Phu Seafood Corporation; Grobest Inc. and the Uni-President Feed Company.

This breakthrough finding by UA of a bacterial aetiology is a crucial first step in finding effective ways to combat EMS.

EMS/AHPNS initially surfaced in 2009. By 2010 outbreaks had become serious. In China in 2011, farms in Hainan, Guangdong, Fujian and Guangxi suffered almost 80 percent losses. In Thailand, shrimp production for 2013 is predicted to be down 30 percent from last year due to EMS. Production on some farms in eastern parts of the country has been cut by 60 percent.

FAO first fielded a mission to Viet Nam through its Crisis Management Centre for Animal Health to investigate the disease in 2011 which pointed to an infectious agent and since 2012 is implementing an emergency technical assistance project in Viet Nam.

No risk to human health

Some rare strains of V. parahaemolyticus do cause gastrointestinal sickness in humans — through the consumption of raw or undercooked shrimp and oysters — but only strains carrying two specific genes cause human disease.

Just 1-2 percent of wild V. parahaemolyticus strains worldwide contain these two genes — and the strain identified by Lightner and his team as responsible for EMS is not among them.

"The strain of V. parahaemolyticus we isolated appears not to have the genes that confer virulence to human infections," said Lightner.

"There have been no reports of human illness being associated with EMS, and these new findings would tend to confirm that EMS-infected shrimp do not pose a health risk to people," added Iddya Karunasagar, a seafood safety expert at FAO.

Only shrimp vulnerable

EMS affects two species of shrimp commonly raised around the world, the Giant Tiger Prawn (Penaeus monodon) and Whiteleg Shrimp (P. vannamei).

Clinical signs of the disease include lethargy, slow growth, an empty stomach and midgut and a pale and atrophied hepatopancreas (an internal digestive organ that serves the function of a liver), often with black streaks. Within 30 days of a pond being stocked large-scale die-offs begin.

So far countries officially reporting EMS include China, Malaysia, Thailand and Viet Nam.

But anyplace where P. monodon and P. vannamei are cultivated is potentially at risk. This includes most of Asia and much of Latin America, where shrimp farming is also important, as well African countries where shrimp are cultivated (Madagascar, Egypt, Mozambique and Tanzania).

Disease spread would appear to be linked to proximity to already-infected farms or the movement of infected live shrimp, usually juveniles used to stock ponds.

Lightner's team was unable to reproduce EMS using frozen and thawed shrimp samples, suggesting freezing kills the responsible bacterium. Since international shrimp trade is mostly in frozen form, there is apparently no or very low risk of disease transmission from these products.

Dealing with EMS

Now that EMS's causative agent is known more research is urgently needed to have a better understanding of how the disease spreads from farm to farm and implement appropriate countermeasures.

At the same time, FAO is engaging with partners to organize a concerted, inter-regional effort to address the disease.

For shrimp farmers, reliance on already-established aquaculture and biosecurity best practices will help prevent EMS-related problems. These include:

• Post-larvae shrimp used for stocking should be purchased from reputable sellers, be accompanied by animal health certificates prior to being introduced on-farm, and subjected to a temporary quarantine prior to stocking.

• High quality feed should be used, and environmental stresses avoided, to keep shrimp healthy.

• The health of pond environments should be carefully maintained and young shrimp should be closely monitored. Any illness should be immediately reported to the proper authorities.

• Regular fallowing of aquaculture ponds should be considered as part of a routine on-farm program of aquatic animal health, as this practice has been shown to break pathogen life cycles.

Off farm, any movement of live or unfrozen shrimp products should also comply with established best practices.]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/175416/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/175416/icode/ Fri, 03 May 2013 08:00:00 GMT Anti-hunger campaign can mark "historical turning point" for Mexico -- FAO DG Mexico's National Crusade Against Hunger can mark a historical turning point for the country, says FAO Director-General, José Graziano da Silva. Under a Memorandum of Understanding signed during his two-day visit, FAO and Mexico will join forces in support of the initiative. 30 April 2013, Mexico City - Mexico's National Crusade Against Hunger can mark a historical turning point for the country, said FAO Director-General, José Graziano da Silva, at the end of a two-day visit.

"Mexico has decided to say 'no more hunger."Although no society favours hunger, few have managed to unite in order to defeat it," Graziano da Silva told an ceremony marking the end of a month dedicated to the National Crusade Against Hunger. President of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto, attended the event together with over 300 members of the government, academia and civil society.

Under a memorandum of understanding signed during the event, Mexico and FAO will join forces in support of the initiative in areas such as the design of social policy instruments, linking public policies to increase their impact, increasing social, community and civil participation, as well as monitoring and evaluation.

The document also declares Mexico's interest in working with FAO to share the knowledge and lessons learned with other countries through South-South Cooperation.

Food, nutrition security

During the ceremony, President Enrique Peña Nieto paid tribute to  FAO's support and noted similarities between the way FAO and the his government aim to achieve food and nutrition security.

"Mexico's Crusade Against Hunger fully adopts the new approach proposed by FAO, addressing the structural causes of poverty and hunger and not just their effects. That is why the Crusade includes an important component of productive inclusion. Our ultimate goal is to allow the most vulnerable sectors of society to overcome poverty through their own work and efforts," Peña Nieto said.

The President also noted that this effort is fully aligned with both the Hunger-Free Latin America and the Caribbean 2025 Initiative and the Zero Hunger Challenge launched by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in June 2012 at the Rio+20 Summit.

The national initiative which groups and aligns over 70 federal programmes, was launched by President Peña Nieto to free Mexico's most vulnerable Mexican populations from food insecurity.

The hungry cannot wait

The Director-General said that the impacts and results of the initiative will be felt in the short term if it is properly implemented and key supports reach those who truly need them.

Graziano da Silva stressed the need to create virtuous circles, such as those that connect school meal programs with smallholder production through government purchases, generating an effect that strengthens child nutrition and boosts local economies.

The Director-General added that mobilizing social participation is a key factor to guarantee success - harnessing "social power" as noted by President Peña Nieto - and said that now many countries are looking to Mexico thanks to the Crusade.

"If Mexico manages to win the fight against hunger and extreme poverty - as it surely will - other nations will feel encouraged to do the same," Graziano da Silva said. 

During his two-day visit to the country, Graziano da Silva held meetings with the Inter-Secretarial Commission of the National Crusade Against Hunger; the Secretary of Foreign Relations, José Antonio Meade Kuribreña; the Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food, Enrique Martinez y Martinez; and the Social Development Secretary, Rosario Robles. He also met with legislators, civil society organizations and representatives from farmers organizations.

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/175526/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/175526/icode/ Wed, 01 May 2013 22:00:00 GMT FAO's partnership strategies approved by Council FAO's governing Council has approved two new Strategies aimed at strengthening FAO's partnerships with civil society organizations on the one hand and the private sector on the other. The Strategies provide a framework for FAO's work with private and civil society partners in pursuit of the Organization's Strategic Objectives and the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition. 26 April 2013, Rome - FAO's  governing Council today approved two new Strategies aimed at strengthening FAO's partnerships with civil society organizations on the one hand and the private sector on the other.

The Strategies provide a framework for FAO's work with private and civil society partners in pursuit of the Organization's Strategic Objectives and the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition.

Thanking the Council for its approval, Director-General José Graziano da Silva said, "We have repeated many times that it is possible to end hunger only if we work together. These strategies show that we are committed to working with partnerships."

FAO sees broader, improved partnerships as essential in achieving its objectives, especially in the light of its new emphasis on decentralization. "Ending hunger cannot be done by any individual organization alone," Graziano da Silva has said on many occasions. The collaboration and support of other actors is vital.

Approval of the strategies today will allow FAO, especially in the field, to better establish partnerships with civil society and the private sector.  A key element will be to ensure that key stakeholders from civil society and private sector actors in the field of food security are identified and involved at country level in support of FAO's efforts.

Both strategies identify six main areas of collaboration (policy dialogue; normative work; technical and field programmes; advocacy and communication; joint use and mobilization of resources; and knowledge sharing) and two main levels of interaction (global level and decentralized level). 

The two strategies are the result of extended consultations with Member States, key external stakeholders and FAO staff, both at headquarters and in the field.  Consultative meetings, bilateral discussions and informal sessions were held to discuss the documents and are reflected in the final documents.

FAO's new, revised Strategic Framework for the next decade includes five Strategic Objectives:

1. Contribute to the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition
2. Increase and improve provision of goods and services from agriculture, forestry and fisheries in a sustainable manner
3. Reduce rural poverty
4. Enable more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems at local, national and international levels
5. Increase the resilience of livelihoods to threats and crises.





]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/175233/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/175233/icode/ Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:00:00 GMT "Enormous opportunity" for ending hunger in Africa "There is an enormous window of opportunity," for eradicating hunger in the Africa, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva says. The key lies in capitalizing on the successes of the many African countries who have already found solutions for food insecurity and malnutrition. 22 April 2013, Rome - Ministers and senior delegates from five African Nations met today with FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva ahead of a High-Level meeting of African and international leaders in Addis Ababa next June set to create a renewed partnership for intensifying efforts to end hunger in Africa.

"There is an enormous window of opportunity," for eradicating hunger in the continent, Graziano da Silva told a side-event organized during a week-long Session of FAO's governing Council here. The key lies in capitalizing on the successes of the many African countries who have already found solutions for food insecurity and malnutrition.

"By building on these experiences we can eradicate food insecurity and malnutrition in Africa. Together we can stop the suffering of the estimated 23 percent of all Africans who remain undernourished, and 40 percent of children under five who are stunted or malnourished," he said.

One reason for optimism is the unprecedented political commitment of governments and the African people to end hunger. An example is the decision of FAO's regional Conference for Africa to set up an Africa Food Security Trust Fund.  The Republic of the Congo, Angola and Equatorial Guinea have already announced they will contribute.

New, unified approaches

Together with political commitment, partnership is the key. "This is the reason why FAO joined forces with the African Union and Brazil's Instituto Lula to host a High-Level meeting in Addis Ababa from 30 June to 1 July called "New, unified approaches to end hunger in Africa".

The new approach will build on the work of the 10-year-old Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), which is already running successfully in 30 countries, and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's  Zero Hunger Challenge, in order to harness strong and sustained political commitment to end hunger in Africa.

"Our aim is to see what works for Africans and non-Africans, to learn from those experiences, to scale up already successful activities, to fill gaps we identify and, if necessary, adjust or rethink our approach," Graziano da Silva said.

Innovative partnerships

"We intend to apply forms of innovative partnerships, to involve all sectors of society, to strengthen collective responsibility, and in this way to improve implementation of CAADP goals," he added.

Guests on the podium at the side event included Rigobert Maboundou, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Republic of Congo, and Chair of the 27th FAO Regional Conference; Amadou Allahoury Diallo, High Commissioner of the Republic of Niger's Nigeriens Nourish Nigeriens (3N) initiative; Jeffrey Luhanga, Principal Secretary for Agriculture and Food Security of the Ministry of Agriculture, Republic of Malawi; Florêncio Mariano da Conceição, Ambassador of the Republic of Angola; and Abreha Aseffa, Deputy Permanent Representative to FAO of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia. Lailà Lokosang , CAADP Advisor on Nutrition and Food Security, represented the African Union's Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture Tumusiime Rhoda Peace.

Angola, Ethiopia, Malawi and Niger have asked FAO to enhance its support to their efforts to promote food security and nutrition in the framework of the New, Unified Approaches to End Hunger in Africa. The pilot phase of the partnership will therefore begin in those four countries.

Niger's Amadou Diallo told today's forum that although his country had a long history of droughts and food crises its 3N initiative aims to ensure that "drought no longer rhymes with famine". The programme centres on improving smallholders' access to water, inputs, information and training. Social protection through safety nets, cash and food vouchers, and school canteens is also essential, as is the promotion of local markets with the objective of achieving  "zero transport" distribution of produce.

Consistent political will

Malawi's Jeffrey Luhanga said the country had turned itself from a heavy food importer into a food surplus producer in less than a decade. One reason was "consistent political will", with  17 percent of the country's budget now devoted to the farm sector. Another important element was the subsidized inputs offered by the Government to farmers, while a current push was being made to increase production of legumes and beans - poor people's food -  and encourage people to keep sheep and goats.

Angola's Florêncio Mariano da Conceição said a basic objective of his country's national development plan was the promotion of a competitive and sustainable agricultural sector to provide food for domestic consumption. The programme included promotion of smallholder credit facilities and improvement of roads, railways and ports.  Another key element was provision of water to all - with 60 percent of the rural population now having proper access to water.

For Ethiopia,  Abreha Aseffa said that the country is running the largest social protection programme in sub-Saharan Africa, covering 6.8 million chronically food-insecure people. This included microfinance services, cash and food vouchers, cash-for work public infrastructure programmes and other initiatives to build community and individual resilience. The country is set on "accelerated and sustained development to end poverty" he said.

Enabling environment

On behalf of the African Union Laila Lokaseng said a key element in hunger eradication was the creation and sustenance of an enabling environment and of the right leadership to drive a zero hunger agenda. Well-grounded, sustainable coordination mechanisms for multisector response is vital too.

Rigobert Maboundou, Chair of the 27th FAO Regional Conference, stressed it is important for all countries to respect the commitments they made at that Conference. In boosting agricultural production, partnerships are important in order to muster appropriate resources, as are appropriate legislative frameworks that foster sustainable agricultural development.

Summarizing the discussions, Graziano da Silva listed seven elements which he said are essential in any national "menu" aimed at achieving food security: 1. Political will. 2. The creation of local markets. 3) Promoting rural development, including storage and transport infrastructure. 4. Recognizing that small farmers are not part of the problem but part of the solution.5. Awareness that increasing agricultural and livestock production is not enough to pull people out of poverty: social protection is needed too. 6.Coordination and governance is fundamental in implementing actions. 7. Build resilience rather than just address immediate needs.   

   

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/174906/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/174906/icode/ Mon, 22 Apr 2013 06:00:00 GMT FAO DG praises Brazil's "strong commitment" to end hunger FAO Director-General has praised Brazil's "strong commitment and support" to ending hunger at a bilateral meeting with Minister Gilberto Carvalho, Secretary General of the Presidency of the Brazilian Republic. The meeting was held during FAO's governing Council session. 25 April 2013, Rome - FAO Director-General has praised Brazil's "strong commitment and support" to ending hunger at a meeting with Minister Gilberto Carvalho, Secretary General of the Presidency of the Brazilian Republic. The two held a bilateral meeting on Tuesday during a week-long session of  FAO's governing Council.

Taking part in the Council "has allowed me to grasp the full extent of the measures being implemented by the Director-General to improve FAO's efficiency," Carvalho said.

Brazil strongly supports FAO's efforts to eradicate hunger, he noted, citing his country's own commitment to end poverty and hunger with the country's successful Fome Zero (Zero Hunger) programme, which Graziano da Silva headed before he joined FAO. Partnerships with the private sector and civil societies are the key elements in President Dilma Rousseff's current Brasil sem Miséria (Brazil without Extreme Poverty) social programme, which builds on Fome Zero.

Following a recent revision of the way in which Member Countries' contributions are calculated, Brazil will be paying $15 million more into FAO's regular budget during the next biennium (2014-2015), "but that money is not wasted, it is an investment," Caravalho said.

He encouraged all countries to contribute more to FAO on a voluntary basis.

Carvalho noted that Graziano has achieved major efficiency savings and that the money is being  redirected to finance productive programmes and activities.

Graziano da Silva and Carvalho also discussed cooperation between Brazil and Africa and the participation of Instituto Lula and the African Union in a High-Level Meeting to take place in Addis Ababa on 30 June 30-1 July to focus on new, unified approaches to end hunger in Africa. 

Carvalho cited the example of the PAA Africa Programme a joint initiative involving FAO, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Brazilian experts and the United Kingdom's Department for International Development. This was inspired by Brazil's success in carrying out its Food Purchase Programme (PAA) and WFP's Purchase for Progress (P4P) pilot initiative.

"True solidarity does not happen between the rich and the poor, but when everyone shares what they have," Carvalho added. ]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/175146/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/175146/icode/ Mon, 22 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT FAO recognizes Nicaragua's efforts in the fight against hunger FAO recognizes Nicaragua's great efforts in the fight against hunger, FAO Director-General, José Graziano da Silva has told Nicaragua's Foreign Minister Samuel Santos López. They held a bilateral meeting at FAO headquarters during FAO's governing Council session taking place this week. 23 April 2013, Rome - FAO recognizes Nicaragua's  great efforts in the fight against hunger, FAO Director-General, José Graziano da Silva told Nicaragua's Foreign Minister Samuel Santos López today. They held a  bilateral meeting at FAO headquarters during FAO's governing Council session taking place this week.

Between 1990 and 2010, Nicaragua reduced the prevalence of  undernourishment in the country from 55.1% to 20.1%, thus successfully meeting  Millennium Development Goal 1, which is to halve the proportion of people suffering from hunger.

Graziano da Silva reaffirmed FAO's interest in marking this accomplishment during the FAO Conference to be held next June with a special event involving all the countries achieving MDG 1.

The Director-General also informed Santos López that Nicaragua has been selected as one of the pilot countries for priority delivery on Strategic Objective 1 (Contribute to the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition) under the new Strategic Framework which he has introduced. The lessons learned will be used by other nations as they also move towards  hunger eradication.

Santos López, on behalf of the Central American Integration System (CAIS) and the Republic of Nicaragua, expressed full support for the transformational process being undertaken by FAO and for the Director-General's Programme of Work and Budget for 2014-15. The Minister also highlighted the importance of providing sufficient financial resources for FAO's programmes.

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/175002/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/175002/icode/ Mon, 22 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT First Global Plan of Action for Forest Genetic Resources adopted by FAO members The first Global Plan for Action for the Conservation, Sustainable Use and Development of Forest Genetic Resources was adopted last week by FAO's Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The Commission has asked FAO to ensure mobilization of adequate financial resources for its implementation, particularly in support of developing countries. 22 April 2013, Rome - The first Global Plan for Action for the Conservation, Sustainable Use and Development of Forest Genetic Resources was adopted last week by FAO's Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

The Commission has asked FAO to develop an implementation strategy for the Plan of Action and to ensure mobilization of adequate financial resources for its implementation, particularly in support of developing countries.

Conserving forest genetic resources is vital for the future

Estimates of the number of tree species worldwide vary from 80 000 to 100 000. Forest ecosystems remain essential refuges for biodiversity, and 12 percent of the world's forests are designated primarily for the conservation of biological diversity.

The contribution of forests and trees to meeting the present and future challenges of food security, poverty alleviation and sustainable development depends on the availability of rich diversity between and within tree species. Genetic diversity is needed to ensure that forest trees can survive, adapt and evolve under changing environmental conditions. It also maintains the vitality of forests and provides resilience to stresses such as pests and disease.

Furthermore, genetic diversity is needed for artificial selection, breeding and domestication programmes for the development of adapted varieties or to strengthen useful traits. In many countries, the prospects for sustainable development in rural areas will be greatly influenced by the state of diversity in forest ecosystems and species.

Priority areas for action

The efforts to sustainably manage forest genetic resources at international and national levels need to rely on solid and coherent information. The country reports on the State of Forest Genetic Resources as developed following FAO guidelines are the main source of comparable information. It is also the basis for the identification of priority areas for action.

The key priority areas for action include improving the availability of and access to information on forest genetic resources; development of the worldwide conservation strategy; sustainable use, development and management of forest genetic resources; establishing and reviewing relevant policies and legal frameworks to integrate major issues related to sustainable management of forest genetic resources, and strengthening institutional and human capacity.

The proposed Global Plan of Action is now set for final approval by the FAO Conference, which will take place in Rome in June 2013.

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/174909/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/174909/icode/ Sun, 21 Apr 2013 22:00:00 GMT Director-General outlines reform achievements and presents new Programme of Work and Budget FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva today opened the FAO Council, presenting the 2014-2015 Programme of Work and Budget, which calls for an increase of 1 percent in the Organization’s budget in real terms to support core work in fighting hunger and malnutrition and promoting sustainable agricultural development. 22 April 2013, Rome -  FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva today opened the FAO Council, presenting the 2014-2015 Programme of Work and Budget which calls for an increase of 1 percent of the Organization's budget in real terms to support the Organization's core work in fighting hunger and malnutrition and promoting sustainable agricultural development.

The Director-General also presented the accomplishments over the past year in cutting bureaucracy and other costs that will help the organization to operate more effectively.

"We are speaking of an ambitious transformation that has just started. Its impact is not always immediately visible. But it is, nevertheless, essential so that FAO can function in the 21st century and fulfill the role for which it was created," he said.

Increasing efficiency and building strength in the field

Looking back over the past 16 months since he took the helm of the Organization, Graziano da Silva noted that in addition to the $6.5 million in savings that member countries mandated FAO to identify, the Organization was able to cut costs by an additional $19.3 million. The total savings of $25.8 million, nearly four times what was required, consisted mostly of savings in administrative areas especially at FAO headquarters.

Graziano da Silva also pointed out that this process made it possible to advance with the Organization's decentralization, which includes the creation of 55 professional posts worldwide while maintaining technical capacity at Headquarters.

"As I have argued before, I believe that a strong presence in the field is the way to truly make FAO a knowledge organization with its feet on the ground," Graziano da Silva said.

The Director-General asked countries to consider efforts to deliver best value for money - the unprecedented savings, the overall reduction of established posts and the net increase in decentralized positions - when discussing the Program of Work and Budget.

Graziano da Silva underlined that the significant changes already undertaken, and those needed to continue the process, will mould a new FAO that drives toward its ultimate goals. "For the first time in FAO's history its budget will be driven by the objectives and outcomes we aim to achieve, and not simply by the activities we carry out."

More emphasis on social protection

Graziano da Silva said he is proposing a strengthening of FAO's capacities in social protection. The reasoning behind this, he said, is quite simple.

"FAO's main mission is to eradicate hunger. When FAO was created after World War II, the main cause of hunger was insufficient food production. Back then, the first and only priority was to increase production," he stated.

Today, he explained, although food production has since exponentially increased, there are still nearly 870 million people that are chronically undernourished.

"The problem now is more complex and more difficult to resolve. The main cause of hunger today is lack of access to food. It is related to poverty, especially rural poverty. Improving social protection is an effective way to raise the capacity of poor people to buy the food they need in the short term and complements initiatives that enhance smallholder productivity and rural employment," Graziano da Silva said.

Graziano da Silva noted that looking forward, there are four key areas in FAO that need to be reinforced: the Technical Cooperation Programme (the core of FAO's expert technical work in the field); the integration of social protection into poverty reduction efforts; the areas of communication, advocacy, partnerships and capacity development; and the monitoring and evaluation function.

Main items on the agenda

In its new Programme of Work and Budget, FAO is seeking an increase of less than one percent that will usher in major changes in the way the Organization carries out its work.  Some highlights of the PWB are:

  • A budget increase of  $ 10 million  for strengthening priority areas of work such as the Technical Cooperation Programme (FAO's technical work at the field level) including the capacity for social protection; 
  • The development and implementation of regional programmatic initiatives as part of the Strategic Objective Action Plans; and
  • The further strengthening of decentralization.

The FAO Council confirmed the appointment of  Maria Helena Semedo as the new Deputy-Director-General (Knowledge). Ms Semedo, a national of Cape Verde, has been with FAO since 2003 when she joined the Organization as FAO Representative in Niger. In 2008, she was appointed Deputy Regional Representative for Africa and Subregional Coordinator for West Africa.]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/174943/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/174943/icode/ Sun, 21 Apr 2013 22:00:00 GMT Rome-based UN Agencies are honorary citizens of Rome The three Rome-based UN agencies - the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP) - have been made honorary citizens of Rome. 21 April 2013, Rome - The three Rome-based UN agencies - the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP) - were made  honorary citizens of Rome today.

The Mayor of the City of Rome, Gianni Alemanno, presented the award at a ceremony held in the City Hall on the occasion of the 2766th anniversary of Rome's founding. He cited the City's "appreciation for the three agencies' consistent commitment to the fight against hunger and poverty, in support of food security and sustainable development and for the improvement of the living conditions of rural populations".

FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva,speaking on behalf of the three Rome-based agencies,  said the City's support to them has been crucial.

Rome -- an inspiration and pleasure

"Your rich traditions, including the value you place on local food and agriculture, have been an inspiration to us. And also a pleasure," he declared.

"I am convinced that one day, FAO, IFAD and WFP will add another footnote to Rome's great history. One that says that, together, we helped to eliminate chronic hunger, malnutrition and extreme poverty," Graziano da Silva continued.

"Thank you, Rome, for being a friend to us all," he added.

The three agencies have different mandates but collaborate to improve food security and alleviate hunger worldwide. FAO moved its headquarters to Rome from the U.S. in 1951; ten years later, FAO gave birth to the World Food Programme, which has kept its headquarters in Rome. And IFAD, which funds agricultural development projects primarily for food production in developing countries, has been based in Rome since its inception in 1977.

Lakshmi Menon, Associate Vice President, Corporate Services Department, represented IFAD while  Deputy Executive Director for Resource Management and Accountability Manoj Juneja represented WFP.]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/174851/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/174851/icode/ Sat, 20 Apr 2013 22:00:00 GMT Genebank Standards for Plant Genetic Resources -- a major accomplishment New international standards to help genebanks worldwide conserve plant diversity in a more efficient and cost-effective manner have been adopted by FAO's Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Brad Fraleigh, Chairman of of the meeting, welcomed the Standards as "a major accomplishment" 19 April 2013, Rome - New international standards to help genebanks worldwide  conserve plant diversity in a more efficient and cost-effective manner were adopted on Thursday April 18 by FAO's  Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

Meeting at its 14th Regular Session here, the Commission endorsed  the Genebank Standards for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

Brad Fraleigh, Chairman of of the meeting, welcomed the Genebank Standards as "a major accomplishment" for the current and future preservation of plant diversity for food and nutrition security. "These standards will be extremely valuable for opening funding opportunities for genebanks as well as increasing use of these valuable resources," he said.

Pioneering efforts

Clayton Campanhola, Director of FAO's Plant Production and Protection Division, appreciated the pioneering efforts of experts from national programmes and other international and regional organizations in preparation of these standards.

The Genebank Standards are voluntary but have a universal value and utility in guiding genebank management for seeds, for germplasm maintained in field collections, as well as conserved through cryopreservation and in vitro culture. They were developed in response to the new technical advances and the increased coverage of plant diversity collections. A systematic application of these standards will require mobilization of financial resources for upgrading professional skills in developing countries.

The Genebank Standards will be available in all UN official languages.

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/174838/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/174838/icode/ Thu, 18 Apr 2013 22:00:00 GMT FAO to support annual Earth Day Italia Concert in Milan on 22 April For the third time, FAO will be supporting the annual Earth Day Concert in Italy, to be held on 22 April. FAO Goodwill Ambassador Khaled, an Algerian musician of world renown, will be performing on stage with Italian singer Fiorella Mannoia at the "Concert for the Earth" in Milan. 18 April, 2013, Rome - For the third time, FAO will be supporting the annual Earth Day Concert in Italy, to be held on 22 April.  FAO Goodwill Ambassador Khaled, an Algerian  musician of world renown, will be performing on stage with Italian singer Fiorella Mannoia at the "Concert for the Earth" in Milan. 

Next Monday, more than one billion people around the world will take part in the 43rd anniversary of Earth Day. The theme for this year's Earth Day is The Face of Climate Change. It aims to raise awareness of the devastating impacts of climate change, such as prolonged droughts, frequent flooding, cyclones, sea-level rises and others, on the lives and livelihoods of millions of people worldwide. It encourages people to call upon their leaders to take urgent action to protect our planet.

This year's concert is organized by Earth Day Italia together with FAO. The event and related activities are also supported by Italian farmers' association Coldiretti, which is a primary partner for Earth Day Italia's green-earth projects.  

"The aim of Earth Day is to inspire awareness of, and appreciation for the Earth's environment. I can hardly think of a more worthy aim," said FAO Assistant Director-General for Forestry Eduardo Rojas-Briales speaking at a press conference on Earth Day Italia Concert today at FAO Headquarters. He was recently named Commissioner-General for the United Nations' preparations for EXPO 2015, which aims to promote the exchange of ideas on culture, economy, science and technology.

Sustainable food systems and ecosystems

"World Expo 2015 will also have a theme of great global relevance: "Feeding the planet, energy for life". FAO and other members of the United Nations family will be enthusiastic participants in the Expo. Our challenge is to provoke thought and inspire action through such events as the International Day of Forests, Earth Day and World Expo 2015, as we seek to create sustainable food systems and ecosystems, and ensure a healthy planet," he added.

The President of Earth Day Italia Pierluigi Sassi said: "On the 43rd World Earth Day, Earth Day Italia launches a three-year campaign in the run-up to the upcoming 2015 Milan Universal Exposition which will highlight the importance of healthy planet and humanity. Following this path together with FAO is not only a great privilege for us but it is also an opportunity to remind the international community that a healthy environment is a keystone to sustainable food production."

"Amid the overconsumption that we must fight against in order to feed the planet, is most certainly one which preys on, without scruples, our ecosystem."

Decisive role of farmers

"On Earth Day, Italian farmers are making a commitment to stop land-use conversion and land degradation, to prevent transgenic contamination and industrial pollution, to provide safe and healthy food and to create, and pass on to future generations, an effective and more sustainable development model," said David Granieri, President of Coldiretti Lazio.

Granieri added that Italian farmers can preserve the major part of agricultural land and ensure environmental and social sustainability for food security.

Saving the planet for future generations

Fiorella Mannoia noted: "We act as if the planet belongs only to us and we keep forgetting that life is transient, that we are only passing through. Our responsibility is to hand it over to future generations in better shape than we found it, so that they can enjoy its beauty. Unfortunately, this gift of nature has been largely disregarded by human greed, like Attila, destroying everything in his way. Now we can and we must fight because everyone has responsibilities and everyone should act according to their conscience to do no harm to what we have."

In a video message, Khaled said: "By taking part in this concert we would like to pay tribute to our unique planet. It is a call for action against the indifference of people towards natural resources and ecosystems that are essential for our future and for the future of our children. As somebody said before me and better than me: the earth is not a heritage of our parents, it is a loan from our children. Joining hands to protect our planet, the planet of our children, is urgent and it is everyone's business."

The concert will be live-streamed and broadcast on Sky Uno and SkyUnoHD on 22 April at 00:10, on Thursday, 23 April, at 16:30 and on Friday, 26 April, at midnight.

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/174747/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/174747/icode/ Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:00:00 GMT World’s gene pool crucial for survival Conserving and making the most of the planet's wealth of genetic resources will be crucial for survival, as people will need to produce sufficient and nutritious food for a growing population, FAO Deputy Director-General Dan Gustafson said today addressing the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome, 15 April 2013 -- Conserving and making the most of the planet's wealth of genetic resources will be crucial for survival, as people will need to produce sufficient and nutritious food for a growing population,  FAO Deputy Director-General Dan Gustafson said today addressing the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

The Commission, the only intergovernmental body to specifically address all matters related to the world's gene pool for food and agriculture, is marking its 30th anniversary and is meeting in Rome this week.

"FAO believes that adaptation of the agriculture sector is not merely an option, but an imperative for human survival, and genetic resources will form an essential part of any adaptation strategy," he said.

"Ensuring food security in the face of climate change is among the most daunting challenges facing humankind," Gustafson said.

Plants account for over 80 percent of the human diet. Some 30 crops account for 95 percent of human food energy needs and just five of them - rice, wheat, maize, millet and sorghum - alone provide 60 percent. Yet more than 7000 plant species have been gathered and cultivated since people first learned to do so many millennia ago. And there are as many as 30 000 edible terrestrial plant species in the world.

"Climate change impacts are expected to reduce agricultural productivity, stability and incomes in many areas that already experience high levels of food insecurity. Yet world agricultural production must increase 60 percent by the middle of this century - less than 40 years from now - to keep pace with the food requirements of the world's growing population,"said Gustafson.

"Genetic resources for food and agriculture play a crucial role in food security, secure livelihoods and environmental services. They also play a crucial role in enabling crops, livestock, aquatic organisms and forest trees to withstand climate change-related conditions."

Climate Change Roadmap

The Commission will be considering a Roadmap on Climate Change and Genetic Resources for an initial phase through 2017. Activities foreseen include awareness-raising, developing guidelines on integrating genetic resources for food and agriculture into adaptation planning, identifying hotspots where biodiversity is under particular threat from climate change and developing an action plan to conserve crop wild relatives from the threat of extinction.

While the Commission is more advanced on plant and animal genetic resources, FAO is also making significant progress in addressing the genetic resources of forests, aquatic life, micro-organisms and invertebrates, reflecting the broadened mandate of the Commission since 1995. including, Bacteria, for example, are essential for production of yogurt and cheese, earthworms churn soil and break down organic matter into essential nutrients and a plethora of pollinators, such as the honeybee, enable 35 percent of the world's crops to reproduce.

Hitting where it hurts

Nations in the warmest parts of the planet will  be hardest hit by climate change, as temperature rises are expected to be sharpest and their agricultural systems least prepared to cope with climate change impacts. Arid and semi-arid zones are expected to become drier, for one, while precipitation in other areas will be more variable and much less predictable.

"It's clear that humankind is going to have to use all the tools at our disposal in order to face up to the challenge of producing enough food as the planet warms," said Linda Collette, Secretary of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

"We are constantly adding to the long inventories of known land and aquatic animals, plants, trees, invertebrates such as pollinating insects and even microscopic organisms - and their genes - and some hold the key to climate change adaptation. Not only must we conserve that genetic diversity, but we must also ensure access to them and ensure we equitably and fairly share the benefits derived from their use," she explained.

Genetic diversity under threat

FAO estimates that in the last century, about 75 percent of crop genetic diversity was lost as farmers worldwide switched to genetically uniform, high-yielding varieties and abandoned multiple local varieties.

Having recourse to genetic material is however essential to adapt and improve agriculture in the face of threats, such as diseases or warming climate that can alter growing conditions. For example, a variety of Turkish wheat, collected and stored in a seed gene bank in 1948, was rediscovered in the 1980s, when it was found to carry genes resistant to many types of disease-causing fungi. Plant breeders now use those genes to develop wheat varieties that are resistant to a range of diseases.

According to the most recent FAO data, 22 percent of livestock breeds are at risk of extinction. However, the local breeds that are least understood often carry genetic defenses that enable them to walk long distances to watering holes, survive with reduced water and fodder intake or fight off tropical diseases. Many ‘industrial' cattle breeds - for example, the high output dairy animals - often don't make it under such harsh conditions. In addition:

  • The world's aquatic ecosystems are made up of approximately 175 000 species of fish, mollusks, crustaceans and aquatic plants. Just ten species account for the world's haul in capture fisheries, while ten species account for half of global fish farming production;
  • There are 80 000 tree species worldwide, but just 1 percent have been studied in any depth. Forests are home to 80 percent of terrestrial biodiversity, while forests are being cleared at an alarming rate - with consequences for global warming;
  • Invertebrates constitute 95 percent of all animal life, while the hidden treasure trove of biodiversity of micro-organisms is incalculable.
The Commission strives to halt the loss of genetic resources for food and agriculture, and to ensure world food security and sustainable development by promoting their conservation, sustainable use, including exchange, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their use.]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/174330/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/174330/icode/ Sun, 14 Apr 2013 22:00:00 GMT No green economy without blue economy, says FAO Efforts to end hunger and fight the effects of climate change in the Pacific Islands will hinge on the success of sustainable development, including wise use of oceans and fisheries, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva told ministers from the region today. 12 April 2013, Apia, Samoa/Rome – Efforts to end hunger and fight the effects of climate change in the Pacific Islands will hinge on the success of sustainable development, including wise use of oceans and fisheries, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva told ministers from the region today. 

“There can be no truly ‘green economy’ without a ‘blue economy’, one that makes the sustainable development of oceans and fishery resources a priority,” Graziano da Silva said. 

“The importance of capture fisheries and aquaculture cannot be neglected. They provide over 3 billion people with about 15 percent of their average per capita intake of animal protein. And these two activities contribute over 200 million jobs globally,”  

“At the same time, these vital services must not jeopardize the key role oceans play in regulating the earth’s climate. They absorb more than 25 percent of the carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere from human activities.” 

Speaking at the 10th Meeting of FAO South West Pacific Ministers for Agriculture in the Samoan capital, Graziano da Silva also said addressing climate change had become “a question of survival – just like hunger.”  

The South West Pacific area accounts for roughly 15 percent of the globe, and includes about two thousand islands and atolls, which are particularly vulnerable to storms and flooding, water scarcity, and stresses on fishery and forestry systems.

The Director-General said one of FAO’s priorities was to work on the especially urgent climate change issues faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and low-lying coastal areas in the Pacific and all regions.

FAO supports Pacific island countries in many ways, in part, by working to broaden and deepen implementation of internationally agreed norms, like the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and related instruments.

The organization works with governments and partners at the national, regional and international levels on issues like illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; the management of tuna fishing; and the management of marine areas beyond national jurisdictions.

Nourishing ideas

Graziano da Silva pointed out that the world had gained ground in the fight against hunger, but there was still much work to be done to improve both food security and the quality of nutrition, and to achieve the Millennium Development Goal to halve by 2015 the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, as measured against 1990 benchmarks. 

Graziano da Silva also noted that three-quarters of all adult deaths in the Pacific are linked to nutrition and lifestyle-related diseases. He highlighted the importance of addressing nutritional issues by implementing integrated nutrition strategies, diversifying diets and recovering the use of traditional, local crops produced by smallholders. 

“Every region has a variety of non-commodity crops that were used in the past as food,” said the FAO Director-General, citing  pandanus plants as an example from the Pacific. “Research shows that pandanus contains high levels of carotenoids, which protected many generations from Vitamin A deficiency.” 

Regional and global cooperation

The main task before participants of the meeting was to review and adopt an overall plan for FAO’s work in 14 countries in the region from 2013 to 2017.

“The support FAO offers you must respond to your development needs and priorities, as laid out in your sustainable development plans,” said the FAO Director-General, who also stressed the importance of aligning them with FAO’s revised strategic framework.

During his three-day visit, Graziano da Silva was bestowed with an honorary chiefly title during the Samoan Ava ceremony. He was scheduled to meet with Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi, ministers from other countries in the region, and local representatives of civil society and the private sector. 

The Director-General was on his first visit to the Pacific islands since taking the helm of the hunger-fighting agency. Earlier in the week, he met with government authorities in Australia. After Samoa, he will travel to Vanuatu and New Zealand.  ]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/173975/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/173975/icode/ Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:00:00 GMT The tricky task of protecting plants in a globalized age The governing body of the International Plant Protection Treaty today wraps up its annual meeting in Rome, having approved two modified phytosanitary measures aimed at preventing plant pests and diseases from spreading via international trade. Every year global crop yields are reduced by somewhere between 20 and 40 percent due to plant pests and diseases, according to the FAO-based IPPC Secretariat. 12 April 2013, Rome - Odds are, today you ate something that came from another hemisphere. A mind-boggling $1.1 trillion worth of agricultural products are traded internationally each year, with food items accounting for 82 percent of the total.

And where fruit or plants can travel, so too can less-savory characters. Fruit fly eggs hidden in the skins of oranges go unseen. Beetles burrow into wooden shipping pallets and escape detection. Fungal spores worm their way between the seams of metal shipping containers and so travel radically farther than the wind might ever blow them.

If they are not dealt with when they arrive at their destination, the consequences can be dire: every year global crop yields are reduced by somewhere between 20 and 40 percent due to plant pests and diseases, according to the FAO-based Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). Precise data are not available, but a significant number of these plant pests were introduced via international trade.

It's not just food production that is at risk. Forests across the globe — relied on by 1.6 billion people in some way for their livelihoods — have been hard hit as well.

In addition to the more notorious "usual suspects" — Mediterranean fruit flies, wheat rust, African Army worms — a veritable panoply of culprits are damaging crops and undermining farmers' livelihoods around the globe: Eggplant Borers, Cassava Bacterial blight, Potato Cyst Nematodes, the European Grapevine Moth, and giant, rice-eating snails of the Pomacea genus. The list is both long and colorful.

Beyond the immediate impacts they have on crop yields and food security, there are other consequences.

Dealing with pest introductions and outbreaks costs governments, farmers and consumers billions of dollars every year. Once pest species are established their eradication is often  impossible, and controlling them takes up a significant percentage of the cost of producing food.

Which is why the IPPC was created.

Standards a key tool

With the volume of trade in agricultural products picking up steam, in 1952 the international community came together to establish a mechanism through which countries  could work together to prevent plant pests and diseases from spreading via agricultural commerce.

The IPPC serves as a network for information sharing between countries on pest occurrences, active control measures, phytosanitary regulations and best-practices — supporting their efforts to protect plant resources and trade safely. Other IPPC core activities include implementation of standards through capacity development and trade dispute settlement.

The main IPPC activity is the formulation of science-based, internationally-agreed standards which detail how plants and plant products should be handled during trade, known as International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures, or ISPMs.

Fifty ISPMs have been developed so far, covering issues ranging from how plant products or wooden packing materials should be treated prior to export, to recommended procedures and methodologies used by agricultural inspectors, to procedures for conducting  risk analysis and required formats for phytosanitary certificates. Another 90 topics are under consideration.

"We now live in a globalized and incredibly interconnected world, full of opportunities for plant pests and diseases to spread from country to country. Reducing risks and preventing or minimizing that spread is far more cost-effective than trying to eradicate or manage an outbreak after-the-fact," says Craig Fedchock, IPPC Secretariat Coordinator.

"Doing so, we protect farmers from the economic devastation of pest and disease outbreaks, shield industries and consumers from the costs of control and eradication, and prevent the loss of biodiversity — as well as help maintain viable, well-functioning ecosystems," Fedchock adds.

Updates for two standards - Sea containers under the spotlight

This week the IPPC's governing body, the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), approved two revised ISPMs during its  annual meeting (8-12 April 2013).

The first was an update to existing ISPM 11: Pest risk analysis for quarantine pests including analysis of environmental risks and living modified organisms which adds detailed guidance on how authorities should undertake risk analysis for determining if a imported plant might be a pest to cultivated or wild plants, whether they should be regulated, and how to identify phytosanitary meas1ures that reduce the risk to an acceptable level.

Additionally, ISPM 15: Regulation of wood package material in international trade, was revised to provide more specific guidance on approved treatments of wood packaging material.

The CPM also agreed to continue moving ahead on a new ISPM aimed at reducing the transmission of plant pests and diseases via sea containers. (Shipping containers account for around 90 percent of all of the goods transported into the world, with about 5 million in transit by sea at any given moment.)

CPM members also discussed options for improving monitoring and pest controls for international shipments of grain.]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/174058/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/174058/icode/ Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:00:00 GMT Feeding nine billion in 2050 During the next 40 years the world's population is projected to reach more than nine billion people. Demand for food is expected to increase by 60 percent under business-as-usual assumptions. Competition for land, water, and food could lead to greater poverty and hunger if not properly addressed now, with potentially severe environmental impacts. 12 April 2013, Dublin/Rome - During the next 40 years the world's population is projected to reach more than nine billion people.  Demand for food is expected to increase by 60 percent under business-as-usual assumptions.  Competition for land, water, and food could lead to greater poverty and hunger if not properly addressed now, with potentially severe environmental impacts.

The Food Security Futures conference will bring together senior researchers from the CGIAR and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), as well as representatives from the private sector, civil society and other research organizations to examine the contribution that public research must make to food security and nutrition, natural resource management, and climate change in order to meet the challenges of the coming years.  The conference is organized by FAO and the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions and Markets (PIM), led by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), a member of the CGIAR Consortium.

In the past century global agricultural production more than kept up with increasing demand and real food prices declined steadily, delivering better diets to most of the world's people.  In the beginning of this century that long-term trend has been reversed with average prices increasing and more frequent price spikes.  And despite increasing abundance, hunger has remained a persistent problem for too many of the world's poor people.  We now face a confluence of pressures on fragile soils, supplies of water, and competing demands for land.  Climate change and rising demand for biofuels provide additional instability in global food systems.

"We must renew efforts to address these challenges," said Kostas Stamoulis, Director, Agricultural and Development Economics Division, FAO.  "But we in FAO and CGIAR must first help the international community to refocus our commitment to sustainable agriculture and the elimination of hunger in light of these changed circumstances. This conference is an important step toward setting priorities for the path forward."

Leading researchers from CGIAR and FAO will present papers on key topics with long-term impact on global food security, for example, nutrition, sustainable resource use, and climate change. Participants will review and discuss the papers to help conference organizers set research priorities for the coming years.

"Engaging key representatives of the research community, the private sector, civil society, donors, and others committed to food and nutrition security will help us all see the bigger picture of what is needed to set priorities and make the best decisions for research," said Karen Brooks, Director, PIM.  "We must try for sound targeting of our research given the enormity of the challenges and what is at stake for all of us, especially the world's poorest and most vulnerable."

For more information on the conference and to keep apprised of conference outcomes, please visit: http://www.pim.cgiar.org/food-security-futures-conference/.

The CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions and Markets is supported by the CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food secure future. www.pim.cgiar.org

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) works to tackle  the root causes of hunger. Its mandate is to raise levels of nutrition, improve sustainable agricultural productivity, better the lives of rural populations, and contribute to the growth of the world economy.

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/174172/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/174172/icode/ Thu, 11 Apr 2013 22:00:00 GMT Dairy nudges FAO Food Price Index higher by one percent The FAO Food Price Index (FPI) crept higher by one percent in March compared with a month before, driven mainly by an 11 percent increase in dairy. Dairy products carry a 17 percent weight among the various commodity prices included in the calculation of the overall FPI. Rome, 11 April 2013 - The FAO Food Price Index (FPI) crept higher by one percent in March compared with a month before, driven mainly by an 11 percent increase in dairy. Dairy products carry a 17 percent weight among the various commodity prices included in the calculation of the overall FPI.

Meanwhile, FAO's monitoring of the global cereal supply and demand situation has slightly revised the 2012 crop production estimate upward by nearly 3 million tonnes, which now stands 2 percent lower than the record set in 2011.

"World cereal production in 2013 could recover strongly barring unfavourable weather in major producing regions," FAO says in its latest Cereal Supply and Demand Brief. The outlook for all cereal crops is positive overall, with wheat crops already well advanced and plantings for rice and coarse grains expected to increase these coming cropping months owing to attractive prices. Global wheat production in 2013 is expected to increase by 4 percent to 690 million tonnes, the second highest ever after the 700 million tonnes produced in 2011.

Exceptional volatility in dairy

The FAO Dairy Price Index jumped by 22 points in March to 225, one of the largest recorded changes. The price surge is caused by hot, dry weather in Oceania, which has led to milk production falling off steeply and a concomitant reduction in the processing of dairy products in the region.

The dairy prices used in the Price Index calculation are based on the exports of New Zealand, as it is the world's largest dairy exporter, accounting for about one-third of global trade. Export prices for dairy products have also risen for other important exporters, such as the European Union and the United States, but not to the same degree.

"The exceptional increase is in part a reflection of market uncertainty as buyers seek alternative sources of supply," the Food Price Index report says. "In addition, dairy output in Europe has yet to come fully online after a particularly cold winter, which has delayed pasture growth to feed dairy animals."

Other major commodity prices stable

The FAO Cereal Price Index averaged 244 points, unchanged from February. While maize prices increased last month on a fall in exportable supplies from the United States, lower wheat prices on prospects of a good world harvest offset those increases. Global rice prices remained stable.

The FAO Oils/Fats Price Index fell 2.5 percent from February, due mostly to soy oil prices, which dropped on account of favourable weather conditions in South America, a record 2013 US soybean crop and a cancellation of purchases by China. Palm oil prices were also slightly down.

The FAO Meat Price Index averaged nearly 176 points in March, down 2 percent from February.

The FAO Sugar Price Index edged higher 2.8 points, or one percent, from February.

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/174083/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/174083/icode/ Thu, 11 Apr 2013 08:00:00 GMT New e-learning course for safer trade in forest commodities A new free online course is helping to ensure safe international trade by highlighting the important role of phytosanitary measures in cross-border trade of forest products. The course was developed by FAO, the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat and other partners and launched during the 8th Session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures. 9 April 2013, Rome - A new free online course is helping to ensure safe international trade by highlighting the important role of phytosanitary measures in cross-border trade of forest products.  The course was developed by FAO, the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat and other partners.


"The course is a very practical tool for exporters and importers. It provides a checklist of the steps they need to take to comply with phytosanitary standards before entering foreign markets," said FAO Forestry Officer Gillian Allard. "It should also help strengthen communication between forestry officials, national plant protection organizations and the private sector."


The global production value for wood and furniture is worth $900 billion per year, with an export value of $200 billion, according to FAO. It is of global importance that internationally traded wood- and non-wood forest products are free from pests.  


The e-learning course, "Trade in forest commodities and the role of phytosanitary measures," provides information on the geographic distribution of important forest pests and outlines pest-related risks for every type of product, by country.


Pest threats exacerbated by international trade


Pests covered include ash dieback (Chalara fraxinea) which is currently causing massive tree deaths in the United Kingdom and much of Europe; the blue-gum chalcid (Leptocybe invasa), which for the past decade has been spreading throughout Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Near East; and the pinewood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) which was introduced from North America into Asia and Europe.


Control costs for the pinewood nematode in Portugal alone were €24 million between 2001 and 2009. Japan annually spends around €10 million to control this pest, which is suspected to spread via wood packaging materials and untreated roundwood and sawnwood.


Easy to use


The course is presented in clear, simple language and is easy to navigate. It contains five modules covering everything from the possible threats to forest health associated with international trade to what information is needed to safely import/export forest products.


The course is based on the successful Guide to implementation of phytosanitary standards in forestry which was published by FAO's Forestry Department in 2011 with input from the IPPC Secretariat and a range of global experts on forestry and phytosanitary issues. Prior to release it was piloted in Zimbabwe.


The course was launched during the 8th Session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), IPPC's governing body, which taking place at FAO headquarters in Rome (8-12 April).   

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/173888/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/173888/icode/ Sun, 07 Apr 2013 22:00:00 GMT Strong biosecurity measures required in response to influenza A(H7N9) virus Responding to the occurrence of the A(H7N9) influenza virus in China requires strong biosecurity measures. Unlike other influenza strains, including highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1, this new virus is hard to detect in poultry because the novel virus causes little to no signs of disease in animals. 5 April 2013, Rome - Responding to the occurrence of the A(H7N9) influenza virus in China requires strong biosecurity measures, FAO said today. Unlike other influenza strains, including highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1, this new virus is hard to detect in poultry because the novel virus causes little to no signs of disease in animals.


"Unlike H5N1, where chickens were dying off on a large scale, with this virus we don't have a red flag that immediately signals an infection. This means farmers may not be aware that virus is circulating in their flock. Biosecurity and hygiene measures will help people protect themselves from virus circulating in seemingly healthy birds or other animals," said Juan Lubroth, FAO Chief Veterinary Officer.


FAO commends China's quick notification of human cases and subsequent release of detailed information to the public on the nature of the virus and other precautionary measures. With this information, FAO and the international scientific community have been analyzing the virus sequence in hopes of better understanding its behavior and its potential impact humans and animals.


"With the virus harder to detect, good biosecurity measures become even more essential to reducing the risk of virus transmission to humans and animals. Good biosecurity and hygiene measures implemented by farmers, livestock producers, transporters, market workers and consumers represent the first and most effective way to protect the food chain," Lubroth said.

While this new virus is being evaluated, FAO continues to recommend the following standard precautions:

  • Keep all birds and livestock separate from people's living areas. Close contact with infected animals can put people at risk. Since A(H7N9) causes little to no signs of disease in birds, separate living areas for animals and people is key.
  • Keep wild birds away from poultry and other animals, keep different types of bird and species of animal apart. Screens, fencing or nets can be used to separate species and help prevent transmission.
  • Report sick or dead animals to the local veterinary (or public health) authorities. If this is not possible, tell your neighbours or community leaders. It is important that all signs of illness or sudden and unexplained deaths in poultry, farmed birds, wild birds or other animals are reported to the authorities so that they can deal with them safely and help stop the virus spreading.
  • Wash your hands often to kill and remove the virus. You should always do so after handling birds or other animals, cooking or preparing animal products, and before eating.
  • Eat well-cooked meat products.
  • Do not eat sick or dead animals and do not give or sell them to others. Such animals should also not be fed to other animals.
  • Seek immediate advice from your doctor if you show signs of fever after being in contact with poultry, farmed birds, wild birds or other animals.
  • If the human threat is confirmed as animal in origin, culling would be appropriate as long as it is performed in a humane way with appropriate compensation made.

FAO is monitoring the situation closely through its wide network of country and regional offices and key partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).


The FAO and OIE reference centre, the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, is leading laboratory analysis in response to the situation. The scientific community and FAO are currently working to optimize diagnostic approaches in order to better detect this new strain of influenza virus.

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/173655/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/173655/icode/ Thu, 04 Apr 2013 22:00:00 GMT National action against hunger crucial in post-2015 world National leadership and action are crucial and governments have the primary responsibility for assuring the food security of their citizens, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva today told a high-level meeting on the UN’s vision for a post-2015 strategy against world hunger. Madrid, 4 April 2013 - National leadership and action are crucial and governments have the primary responsibility for assuring the food security of their citizens, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva today told a high-level meeting on the UN's vision for a post-2015 strategy against world hunger. The UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) deadline will pass in 2015.

"The Millenium Development Goals have pushed us forward. But with 870 million people still suffering from hunger, the war against food insecurity is far from over," Graziano da Silva said.

"The only effective answer to food insecurity is political commitment at the national level, and reinforced at the regional and global levels by the international community of donors and international organizations," he said, adding that the world's attitude toward hunger has changed profoundly.

"The right to food in the context of national food security is now the agreed foundation for policy discussion worldwide," he said.

Rural development needed

The Director-General said that since the world produces enough food to feed everyone, emphasis needs to be placed on access to food and to adequate nutrition at the local level. "We need food systems to be more efficient and equitable," he said.

He said that such progress will require significant public and private investment in rural areas where over 70 percent of the hungry live and where millions of people depend on agriculture for food and employment including 500 million smallholder farm families.

However, he warned that despite the primary responsibility of national governments to ensure their citizens are fed, today's globalized economy means that no country acts alone.

"Actions taken by one country or company may affect the food security of others [while] conflicts can lead to instability in neighboring countries and regions," he said.

"Impacts on environmental and natural resources are not purely national and it is virtually impossible to regulate markets and activities at the national level alone."

As examples of multilateral efforts that contribute to national efforts to reduce hunger and make development more sustainable, he cited the strengthening of the Committee on World Food Security and the United Nations Secretary-General's High Level Task Force on Global Food Security. Another example is the Zero Hunger Challenge launched by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon last June, at the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development, he said.

Public policies should also create opportunities for the most disadvantaged, including subsistence and small-scale producers, women, youth and indigenous people, he said.
]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/173531/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/173531/icode/ Wed, 03 Apr 2013 22:00:00 GMT Netting flies and mosquitoes protects livestock, boosts milk yields Long-lasting insecticide-treated nets – basically the same ones used to protect humans – are boosting livestock health and the lives of people depending on those animals, from dairy farms run mostly by women in Kenya to smallholder pig farms in Ghana. The knock-on benefit? With fewer insects around, people too are a lot less sick. 27 March 2013, Rome - A simple but innovative use of insecticide-impregnated nets to protect livestock is doubling and in some cases tripling milk outputs on smallholder dairy farms while also reducing mosquito-borne illnesses in humans in Kisii, Kenya, in the country's western highlands. The FAO project is part of a wider strategy to vastly improve animal health in areas most affected by tropical diseases.

The nets are environmentally safe and have drastically cut the number of flies, mosquitoes and other disease transmitting insect vectors by close to 90 percent, and cases of mastitis, a bacterial disease that can be spread by flies as well as poor hygiene during milking, have been halved on smallholder dairy farms. Farmers also learned basic hygiene measures to reduce illnesses in their cows.

And the mosquito nets are having a significant knock-on benefit for families: in Kisii, preliminary results show that farmers are reporting 40 percent fewer cases of malaria in their homes. While Kenyans often attribute illness to malaria without knowing the true cause, a direct human health benefit shouldn't come as a surprise.

One farmer in the Kisii area, Mary Munyega Nyandeo, said, " I used to milk around 2 litres of milk, but since the nets were brought and the flies disappeared, I now milk around 4 or 5 litres a day, so I make profit."

What's more, she said, "we've had no more malaria."

Another farmer, Mary Owendo, said, "Before this, I thought milk was only for the home. I never knew that selling milk could help me pay my children's school fees." She even managed to pay to get electricity in her home, thanks to the cows.

From open grazing to zero grazing

In recent decades, as available land has shrunk due to urban expansion or as land is diverted to other uses, smallholder farmers have increasingly adopted the ‘zero grazing' model, in which dairy cows are fed in well-ventilated shelters, rather than being allowed to roam in open pastures. In Kisii, farm after farm has switched to this method as smallholders farm on smaller and smaller plots. The challenge, however, became managing the increasing fly and vector populations that were drawn to the sheds with the zero grazing cows and the waste pits associated with them.

"These ‘site-specific animal health packages' with nets to protect the cow shelters and the waste pits have proved not only effective in maintaining the area's freedom from biting flies and mosquitoes, but they also improved animal health across the board," explained Rajinder Saini, an entomologist with FAO's implementing partner in Kisii, ICIPE, an international research institute based in Nairobi. ICIPE no longer goes by its original acronym, branding itself now as "African Insect Science for Food and Health."

"Now the cows are happy, they don't waste energy stomping their feet and flicking their tails, and they are converting feed better, gaining weight and producing more milk. The farmers are obviously happy too," Saini said.

The human health benefit, everyone agrees, would be the natural added benefit of reducing the numbers of the same vectors that transmit illnesses to humans, sometimes from their own livestock animals.

Dying off like flies

"In my first years in Africa, I'd look around and see especially the exotic breeds of animals dying off by the droves," said Burkhard Bauer, an independent Senior Scientific Advisor of the Free University of Berlin working on the FAO project. The project is built mainly upon the use of insecticide netting to make smallholder farms fundamentally healthier, even in resource-poor settings.

Bauer first went to Kenya in 2001, where he managed an EU-funded project on dairy farming in zones where tsetse fly populations are a problem. Tsetse flies transmit the disease trypanosomosis or nagana to animals, which is responsible for the deaths of 3 million cattle and economic losses of more than $4.5 billion every year in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease when transmitted to humans is better known as ‘sleeping sickness,' and it is inevitably fatal in humans when left untreated. Some 30 000 people contract the disease in Africa every year, and it is a significant impediment to economic development in so-called T&T (tsetse and trypanosome) zones across Africa.

In countries like Kenya, where smallholders owning just one or a few cows care for 80 percent of the dairy animals and produce more than three-quarters of the country's milk, the loss of an animal can devastate a family economically.

"We were treating animals that were already sick, but they kept dying. So we needed to look at the real culprits - the insects that transmit disease in the first place," said Bauer. Bauer's concept, with support from the university and partners like FAO, has been tested in the field and honed over time.

He said it was so simple, he couldn't believe no one had thought of it before.

Ecologically sustainable

The insecticide nets have also been shown to be ecologically safe. Minimal netting is used, in addition, since tsetse flies generally fly close to the ground. So just one metre in height around livestock shelters needs to be protected with the netting.

"The insecticide used is made from the same chemicals used in pet flea collars," said Raffaele Mattioli, Senior Officer with FAO's Animal Health Service in Rome.

Livestock are typically dipped into water treated with pyrethroid insecticides, since they don't affect mammals. Or farmers slather it over their legs. But with the nets, only the exact necessary amount of that chemical is impregnated in the nets and constantly released over time - minimizing the risk that insects will develop resistance to the insecticides. Pyrethroids are now the main insecticides on the market for household use.

The insecticide-impregnated nets also potentially eliminate ticks, by modifying for example the amounts of insecticide used and ensuring the nets come into contact with the ground. So tick-borne diseases, such as East Coast Fever, which is widespread in Eastern Africa, could be reduced with the same basic approach, Mattioli said.

"This project, though conceived to increase animal health and production, is a concrete example of a One Health approach, where interventions to improve health - whether animal or human merges and is a product of a larger system of interlinked healths - including also plants and the ecosystems they all live in," said Mattioli.

Scaling up and out

Smallholder pig farmers are also using the livestock protective net fencing in Ghana. The biting of nuisance flies has been reduced nearly to zero and pig production and health has improved. The work in Ghana is done in coordination with the country's national coordination office of the Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomosis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC). A third pilot is getting underway in Burkina Faso, where the livestock systems are predominantly pastoralist.

In recent project meetings, government and private sector trainees interested in emulating the model have also learned about use of the insecticide nets. The trainees were from Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda in Eastern Africa and from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo in Western Africa.

The pilot projects are supported by $1.6 million in funding from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/173224/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/173224/icode/ Wed, 27 Mar 2013 09:00:00 GMT Madagascar needs more than $41 million to end locust plague Madagascar needs more than $22 million of emergency funding by June to start fighting a severe locust plague that threatens the country's next cropping seasons and the food security of more than half the country's population, FAO said today. The agency underlined, however, that a three-year strategy is needed - requiring an additional $19 million. Rome, 26 March 2013 - Madagascar needs more than $22 million of emergency funding by June to start fighting a severe locust plague that threatens the country's next cropping seasons and the food security of more than half the country's population, FAO said today. The agency underlined, however, that a three-year strategy is needed - requiring an additional $19 million.

Currently, about half the country is infested by hoppers and flying swarms - each swarm made up of billions of plant-devouring insects. FAO estimates that about two-thirds of the island country will be affected by the locust plague by September 2013 if no action is taken.

In view of the deteriorating situation, the Ministry of Agriculture of Madagascar declared a state of locust alert and a public disaster for the whole country on 27 November 2012. In December, the Ministry of Agriculture requested technical and financial assistance from FAO to address the current locust plague, ensure the mobilization of funds as well as the coordination and implementation of an emergency response.

The emergency funding that has to arrive by June will allow FAO, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, to launch a full-scale spraying campaign for the first year.

Nearly 60 percent of the island's more than 22 million people could be threatened by a significant worsening of hunger in a country that already has extremely high rates of food insecurity and malnutrition. In the poorest southern regions, where the plague started, around 70 percent of households are food insecure.

The plague now threatens 60 percent of the country's rice production. Rice is the main staple in Madagascar, where 80 percent of the population lives on less than a dollar per day.

The locust swarms would also consume most green vegetation that might normally serve as pasture for livestock.

From start to finish

"We know from experience that this plague will require three years of anti-locust campaigns. We need funds now to procure supplies and to timely set-up the aerial survey and control operations," said Annie Monard, FAO Senior Officer and Coordinator of the FAO locust response.

"Failure to respond now will lead to massive food aid requirements later on," said Dominique Burgeon, Director of the FAO Emergency and Rehabilitation Division.

"Campaigns in past years were underfunded, and unfortunately it means that not all locust infestations were controlled," said Monard. She compared it to not uprooting the roots of a weed, in which case even more weeds come back.

Current national efforts

The national Locust Control Centre has thus far treated 30 000 hectares of farmland since the six-month rainy season began in October 2012, but some 100 000 hectares that need to be treated haven't been, due to the government's limited capacity.

In late February, the situation was made even worse by Cyclone Haruna, which not only damaged crops and homes but also provided optimal conditions for one more generation of locusts to breed.

The first year of the FAO strategy to control locusts would rely on large-scale aerial operations. Some 1.5 million hectares will be treated in 2013-14, which declines to 500 000 hectares in the second year and 150 000 hectares in the third and last year of the strategy. All the operations will be implemented in respect of human health and the environment.

The strategy also includes:

  • establishment and training of a Locust Watch Unit inside the Plant Protection Directorate, for monitoring and analysis of the locust situation over the whole invasion area;
  • aerial and ground survey operations;
  • monitoring and mitigation of locust control operations to preserve human health and protect the environment;
  • training in pesticide and spraying operations management.

An impact assessment of the locust crisis on crops and pasture will be conducted each year to determine the type of support needed by farming households whose livelihoods have been affected.]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/173088/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/173088/icode/ Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:00:00 GMT FAO Director-General praises trend toward small-scale local food production Small-scale producers, local production and consumption circuits and recovering traditional crops have a major part to play in reducing hunger, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva told professors and students at the University of Gastronomic Sciences today, also noting the many possibilities of cooperation between FAO and the university. Pollenzo/Bra, 25 March 2013 - Small-scale producers, local production and consumption circuits and recovering traditional crops have a major part to play in reducing hunger, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva told professors and students at the University of Gastronomic Sciences today, also noting the many possibilities of cooperation between FAO and the university to fulfil the vision of a hunger-free and sustainable world.

He said that the Green Revolution of the 1960s had increased per capita availability of food by over 40 percent, but at the cost of a loss of food diversity because of a focus on a few crops and significant impact on the environment from intensive use of chemical inputs.

But now there was a trend towards growing and marketing traditional foods, towards improving local infrastructure and markets and helping small-scale producers, all of which was good for the environment and the economy of rural areas, where hunger was worst, he said.

"Under-utilized crops ... can have a positive impact on food security," he said. "Recovering these crops is a way towards food security. It also means rediscovering lost flavors and identifying new ones. That is something that unites all of you to the poor farmers throughout the world," the Director-General told the audience.

Graziano da Silva mentioned cassava in Africa and South America and quinoa in the Andes as food crops that were coming into their own, to the benefit of poor farmers and their families. He encouraged his audience to help spread the word about the International Year of Quinoa, being celebrated this year.

Gastronomic sciences and Slow Food

The University of Gastronomic Sciences was founded in 2004 by the Slow Food movement, headed by Carlo Petrini, who was in the audience. Slow Food works with FAO on a project that helps map food biodiversity in four African countries: Guinea Bissau, Mali, Senegal and Sierra Leone. The project has helped farmers bring traditional foodstuffs to market in developed countries through an annual event.

"This link to markets completes a virtuous circle: recover traditional crops, support local production and link them to markets, allowing for an increase in their income," said Graziano da Silva.

"Your interest in rediscovering different foods is a way to recognize the cultural value of food, a value that is often forgotten in today's globalized and fast world," added the FAO Director-General.]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/173102/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/173102/icode/ Sun, 24 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT FAO forestry chief to lead UN-wide preps for Expo 2015 Creating sustainable and secure food systems will be high on the agenda for Expo 2015 in Milan, Italy, said Eduardo Rojas-Briales, FAO Assistant Director-General for Forestry, who has been named Commissioner-General for the United Nations’ preparations for the event. The theme of Expo 2015 will be ‘Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life'. 25 March 2013, Rome – Creating sustainable and secure food systems will be high on the agenda for Expo 2015 in Milan, Italy, said Eduardo Rojas-Briales, FAO Assistant Director-General for Forestry, who has been named Commissioner-General for the United Nations’ preparations for the event.

The theme of Expo 2015 will be ‘Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life’. Participants will focus on issues like food security, women and nutrition, sustainable development, and climate change, which tie directly into the work done by FAO and other UN system agencies.

"Our challenge for Expo 2015 is to provoke thought and inspire action, as part of an ongoing process to create sustainable and secure food systems,” said Rojas, who was appointed Commissioner-General by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

“The UN will work with its partners and the Expo 2015 host country, Italy, to share what we’ve learned in our efforts to improve lives. We hope to help governments, organizations, companies and families make more conscious and consistent decisions on food security, nutrition, sustainable development and other issues that are critical to our planet,” Rojas added.

FAO, in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the World Food Programme (WFP), and Bioversity International, will lead the effort to showcase the activities and best practices of the United Nations in fields related to the themes of the Expo.

Expo 2015

The Expo, also known as the World’s Fair, was first held 160 years ago and is a global, non-commercial exposition that aims to promote the exchange of ideas on culture, the economy, science and technology. Around 140 countries are expected to take part in Expo 2015, including around 80 developing countries. International organizations, civil society, the private sector and the media will also be there.

In addition to serving as Assistant Director-General at FAO, Mr. Rojas-Briales is the current Chair of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, an informal arrangement comprising 14 international organizations, agencies and secretariats that promote the sustainable management of all types of forests.]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/172541/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/172541/icode/ Sun, 24 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT FAO calls for ‘Zero Illegal Deforestation’ target On the first International Day of Forests, celebrated by the United Nations today, FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva proposed that countries support a Zero Illegal Deforestation target in the context of the post-2015 debate. 21 March, 2013, Rome - On the first International Day of Forests, celebrated by the United Nations today, FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva proposed that countries support a Zero Illegal Deforestation target in the context of the post-2015 debate.

"In many countries, illegal deforestation is degrading ecosystems, diminishing water availability and limiting the supply of fuelwood - all of which reduce food security, especially for the poor," Graziano da Silva said at a ceremony marking the International Day of Forests. "Stopping illegal deforestation and forest degradation would do much to end hunger, extreme poverty and bring about sustainability."

"This is why, I would like to encourage countries to promote tree planting and to consider a Zero Illegal Deforestation target in the context of the post-2015 debate. These two goals should be closely linked. We can achieve positive results if countries, the international financial institutions, the UN, civil society and the private sector join forces to tackle these issues."

Mediterranean countries respond to forest threats

In parallel, the countries of the Mediterranean are meeting today at the Third Mediterranean Forest Week, taking place in Tlemcen, Algeria (17-21 March), to discuss the state of Mediterranean forests and adopt a Strategic Framework on Mediterranean Forests.

The Mediterranean forests are expected to be hard hit by climate change and are under severe pressure from population growth, according to the first FAO report on The State of Mediterranean Forests, also published today. This results in ever-increasing competition for already scarce food and water resources in the region.

Climate change and population growth

Temperatures in the Mediterranean increased by one degree during the twentieth century while rainfall decreased by 20 percent in certain Mediterranean areas. By the end of this century, it is expected that temperatures will have risen by a further two degrees, which is likely to put some forest species at risk of extinction and result in loss of biodiversity. 

Population growth is expected to rise from around 500 million people currently living in the Mediterranean to 625 million by 2050.  This will put additional pressure on forests as sources of food and water. 

The situation differs across the region. In the northern Mediterranean countries an abandonment of forested lands has led to a dramatic increase in the incidence of forest fires. In the southern Mediterranean, population growth has led to forests being overgrazed or lost to agriculture and urban expansion. In both cases, the result is deforestation and forest degradation, exacerbated by the impact of climate change and economic crises. New collaborative strategies are urgently required to sustainably manage these fragile and vital ecosystems, the report said. In countries like Turkey or Tunisia, where the political will has been strong, forest area has recovered significantly in the past decades.

"The Mediterranean region is undergoing many changes in their societies, lifestyles and climate", said FAO Assistant Director-General for Forests Eduardo Rojas-Briales. "If unmanaged, such changes could lead to negative impacts on livelihoods, biodiversity, wildfire risks, watersheds or desertification. There is an urgent need to regularly assess the state of Mediterranean forests using objective and reliable data and to manage endangered forest resources more sustainably."

New strategies to ensure environmental services

Mediterranean forests are a significant carbon sink. In 2010 they stocked almost 5 billion tons of carbon, which represent 1.6 percent of the global forest carbon stock. They also provide valuable ecosystem services such as water and climate regulation, the provision of wood and non-wood products, and biodiversity conservation. The Mediterranean region is one of the world's biodiversity hotspots. There are more than 25,000 plant species in the Mediterranean region, compared with about 6,000 in central and northern Europe.

The report stresses that the value of Mediterranean forests and their vital role in climate change adaptation and mitigation should be recognized at local, regional and national levels.  It calls upon governments and foresters to promote the use of wood and non-wood forest products such as cork for long-term carbon storage, and to reinforce the investment potential of smallholders working in wood and non-wood, forest-based industries (pine nuts, esparto grass, mushrooms, honey, etc.).

The report urges foresters to use the variety of forest genetic resources in their silvicultural practices and promote forest species best able to adapt to changing climate conditions.

On a local scale, foresters should also improve forest planning to manage forest ecosystems with the optimal density of trees and to deal with water scarcity, whereas the large scale activities should include systematic forest fire prevention.

Forest fire prevention

Climate change could  lead to more frequent and more severe fires, the report warned. Between 2006 and 2010, around two million hectares of forests were affected by fires in the Mediterranean region. Without adequate fire prevention measures, including fire hazard reduction and prescribed fires to burn biomass during the winter season to reduce fuel levels, extreme weather conditions could cause catastrophic forest fire events.

The report was developed by more than 20 scientific and technical institutions and non-governmental organizations and nearly 50 authors and other contributors coordinated by FAO and Plan Bleu, the main support centre of the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development. FAO intends to publish The State of Mediterranean Forests every five years, providing further opportunities to unify and mobilize partners in the management of Mediterranean forests and other wooded lands.

Based on the key recommendations adopted in the Tlemcen Declaration during its high-level segment, the future implementation of the Strategic Framework on Mediterranean Forests could be a useful regional tool to adapt national forest policies in the face of ongoing global changes which are affecting  the Mediterranean region.

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/172595/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/172595/icode/ Wed, 20 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT Coordinated action key to Mexico’s Crusade Against Hunger FAO will support Mexico’s efforts to ensure that no one is left out in the fight against hunger, José Graziano da Silva, FAO Director-General assured the Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto during an encounter today in Rome. 20 March 2013, Rome – FAO will support Mexico’s efforts to ensure that no one is left out in the fight against hunger, José Graziano da Silva, FAO Director-General assured the Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto during an encounter today in Rome.

“The National Crusade Against Hunger is a government priority. All our efforts should converge to assist vulnerable populations,” Peña Nieto said. “The Crusade focuses on those who do not benefit automatically from growth.”  

Graziano da Silva and the President discussed ways to strengthen governance mechanisms for food security, including the coordination of government action and participation of civil society and the private sector in anti-hunger and poverty-reduction efforts. 

“No one can walk the path to food security alone. It is important for government at all levels, plus civil society and the private sector, to coordinate their efforts and take action together. FAO can help to identify and build synergy among those who are working to fight hunger, so that they can better direct those efforts,” said Graziano da Silva. 

The Director-General accepted the President’s invitation to visit Mexico in the near future. He said FAO fully supports the objectives of the Crusade to reach out to those who fall between the cracks economically and socially. 

Peña Nieto added that Mexico’s anti-hunger initiative would work to change underlying social conditions that contribute to hunger, and stressed the importance of mobilizing communal social energy.   ]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/172581/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/172581/icode/ Tue, 19 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT Pope Francis can help fight against hunger and extreme poverty FAO Director-General Jose’ Graziano da Silva attended the inaugural Mass for Pope Francis at the Vatican on Tuesday, saying the United Nations would look to Pope Francis as a “friend of the poor” to support the fight against hunger, malnutrition and extreme poverty. Graziano da Silva was at the ceremony on behalf of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Rome, 19 March 2013 - FAO Director-General Jose’ Graziano da Silva attended the inaugural Mass for Pope Francis at the Vatican on Tuesday, saying the United Nations would look to Pope Francis as a “friend of the poor” to support the fight against hunger, malnutrition and extreme poverty.

Graziano da Silva was at the ceremony on behalf of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, joining other dignitaries and crowds of worshippers gathered in and around St. Peter’s Square for the event. 

“We look to Pope Francis to champion the rights and needs of the most vulnerable children, women and men everywhere,” said Graziano da Silva. He noted that Pope Francis chose the name of Saint Francis of Assisi, who was known as a friend to the poor. 

“The support of the Vatican and other religions is indispensable in our bid to eradicate hunger, build a sustainable future, and improve the lives of the most vulnerable among us. These efforts not only make political and economic sense, but morally they are also the right thing to do,” said Graziano da Silva. 

Following the ceremony, Graziano da Silva greeted Pope Francis and lauded his predecessor, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, for his support in the fight against hunger and, in particular, for having tried to discourage food price volatility by urging action against food price speculation on commodity markets. 

“Pope Francis reassured me that he would continue the Vatican’s vocal support for pro-poor and anti-hunger action, and that he intended to follow up on our initial conversation to discuss ways to take this forward,” the Director-General added.]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/172462/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/172462/icode/ Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:00:00 GMT Lula da Silva, Kufuor: Political Commitment crucial to end hunger and food insecurity in Africa Former presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil and John Kufuor of Ghana have called for strong political will to bring an end to hunger in Africa, while participating in a high-level forum organized by the FAO’s Regional Office for Africa based in Accra. 19 March 2013, Accra - Former presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil and John Kufuor of Ghana have called for strong political will to bring an end to hunger in Africa, while participating in a high-level forum organized by the FAO's Regional Office for Africa based in Accra. 

"It is entirely possible to guarantee that every human being is able to eat three meals a day," said Lula da Silva.

At the meeting, Lula, Kufuor and Maria Helena Semedo, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, stressed the importance of political leadership in fighting hunger and food insecurity.

"Poverty and hunger are part of history but are not our destiny, therefore Africans -- like Brazilians - are not fated to starve. Political will, visionary leadership and the force of women and men together can change a history of hunger and poverty just by the force of their determination," said Maria Helena Semedo as she opened the debate on 16 March, adding that the success stories recorded in Ghana and Brazil could be replicated in other countries.

The Brazilian experience

Kufuor and Lula da Silva outlined the strategies used in reducing hunger and combating food insecurity during their administrations. Kufuor was president of Ghana from 2001-2009, while Lula da Silva was president of Brazil from 2003-2010. Both achieved significant progress against hunger.

Lula da Silva said that his government's policies helped lift about 30 million Brazilians from extreme poverty and moved 40 million from the lower class into the middle class. He pointed to Brazil's Zero Hunger programme and social protection as key to the country's success, including the Bolsa Familia (Family Grant) for Brazil's poorest people, the Food Purchase Program and the School Feeding Program. Rates of child malnutrition have plummeted under the School Feeding Program, which provides 47 million free school meals daily to children in all grades of Brazil's public schools. At least 30 percent of the food is supplied by local farms. 

Ghana: MDG1 Champion 

Kufuor echoed statements that strong political leadership is needed to reduce hunger and address food insecurity. Social policies such as the Ghana's School Feeding Programme, support for smallholders and for agricultural commercialization, adoption of best farming practices and fertilizer subsidies helped Ghana make impressive progress in the battle against hunger. Ghana became the first sub-Saharan African country to achieve UN Millennium Development Goal 1 on halving the proportion of people who suffer from hunger and to have reached and even surpassed the 1996 World Food Summit goal of reducing by half the number of undernourished people by 2015.

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ernest Aryeetey, also participated in the  High Level Dialogue that was attended by government officials, the international community, representatives of farmers' groups, civil society organizations and NGOs, cooperatives, private sector, and academia.

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/172410/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/172410/icode/ Mon, 18 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT Fighting hunger fundamental -- Brazil Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva reviewed hunger and poverty-fighting strategies, including the "social technologies" pioneered by Brazil, at a meeting at FAO headquarters. Stating that "it is fundamental to end hunger", President Rousseff noted that three aspects of the Brazilian anti-hunger programme are essential. 18 March 2013, Rome - Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff  and FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva reviewed hunger and poverty-fighting strategies, including the "social technologies" pioneered  by Brazil, at a meeting at FAO headquarters today.

Stating that "it is fundamental to end hunger", President Rousseff  noted  that three aspects of the Brazilian anti-hunger programme are essential.

It is vital to accurately map hunger so that planners know who the "invisible poor and hungry" are, she said. Also crucial is that cash transfer programmes  -- whether based on cash cards, vouchers or other instruments - make sure that money reaches beneficiaries directly without going through any intermediaries.

A third essential requisite was that women are the recipients of such transfers,  President Rousseff and Graziano da Silva agreed

School feeding

Outlining other Brazilian initiatives, President Rousseff mentioned her country's Food Purchase Programme, which  buys agricultural products from smallholders and delivers them to at-risk categories, including children and youth through school feeding programmes. The programme is a cornerstone of the country's Zero Hunger strategy.

Brazil, together with FAO and the World Food Programme, is providing money and expertise to replicate the programme in five African countries, and has also exported it to other countries in Latin America.

Graziano da Silva noted that Brazil's social tchnology initiatives could well be used as a model for other countries  in their fight against hunger. Brazil and FAO could work together to help introduce such techniques elsewhere, he said.  

Millennium Goals

Ending hunger and poverty is an essential first step in achieving other Millennium Development Goals such as universal primary education and environmental sustainability,  he noted, adding that it was essential to bring the private sector and civil society on board to guarantee success.

Graziano da Silva also praised Brazil's decision to eliminate taxes on a series of essential food products as "a good idea that benefits poor families".  

FAO and Brazil also discussed possible cooperation to combat deforestation.

In connection with hunger-mapping, he mentioned FAO's Voices of the Hungry project, offering  a new, faster and more precise way of measuring hunger and food insecurity across the world, to be  field-tested by FAO in several pilot countries.  

President Dilma Rousseff was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Relations Antonio Patriota, the Secretary General of the Presidency, Minister of Gilberto Carvalho, Education Minister Aloizio Mercadante and Communication Secretary Helena Chagas.

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/172347/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/172347/icode/ Sun, 17 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT World not coping well with change in diets, says FAO Director-General Urbanization, economic growth and other transformations are causing changes in lifestyles and diets in many parts of the world and countries are not coping as well as they could, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva told professors and students at Wageningen University and Research Centre in the Netherlands today. 15 March 2013, Wageningen, Netherlands - Urbanization, economic growth and other transformations are causing changes in lifestyles and diets in many parts of the world and countries are not coping as well as they could, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva told professors and students at Wageningen University and Research Centre today.

The Director-General, on an official two-day visit to the Netherlands, spoke of the need to guarantee the production of safe food and to offer consumers better alternatives and information on their diets.

"We need integrated nutrition strategies, formed with the inputs of society as a whole - the private sector, consumers, doctors, and consumer organizations and others," he said.

While 870 million people suffer from hunger, there are also over half a billion who are obese and susceptible to non-communicable diseases.

Graziano da Silva signed an accord with the University of Wageningen covering a closer collaboration on scientific research and joint activities to foster and promote education, research and technology capacities in developing countries. He said that FAO was renewing its relationship with the university because it believed that in the fight against hunger and malnutrition, partnerships were "absolutely essential".

Role of traditional crops

Graziano da Silva said a global review of nutrition strategy could, for example, involve rethinking the role of traditional crops, which have lost space in modern diets.

"Every region has a variety of non-commodity crops that were used in the past as food," he said. "One example is quinoa, which is being celebrated in 2013 in an international year." Quinoa is an Andean "super food", a highly nutritious, cereal-like crop rich in protein and micronutrients.

Importance of family farms

The FAO head praised the university for supporting the development of both industrial agriculture and small-scale production, adding that its research made an important contribution to understanding family farming.

"I believe there is room for both agricultural models in the world today, we need both of them," he said.

Pointing out that 2014 will be the International Year of Family Farming, Graziano da Silva said that in most developing countries small-scale farming is the main producer of the food consumed nationally and also the main source of employment in rural areas.

He also noted that in recent decades rural populations have become older and in many cases predominantly female. Women therefore need to be empowered, provided with the rights, policies, tools and resources necessary to support the role they play in all aspects of rural life and food security. People especially youth also needed better economic opportunities that would keep them in the rural areas, he added.

Technology needs to adapt to local needs

Although science and technology must drive agricultural productivity and production increases, Graziano da Silva cautioned his audience that technology can not simply be exported from one country to another and be expected to work perfectly. It must be adapted to local conditions.

"Agriculture is too sensitive and location specific," he said. "Soil, climate, water availability and so many other factors influence how one technology will work elsewhere."

"We need to ask farmers what they need, what they want, see what could fit, how it needs to be adapted and ensure that whatever we do ends up being ‘owned' by the farmers themselves," he added.

FAO's role

Graziano da Silva also spoke of fundamental changes taking place in FAO as it concentrates its work on the world's most pressing food, nutrition, agricultural and rural development problems.

"FAO's mission to contribute to ending hunger in the world is as valid today as it was in 1945 when it was created ... but the challenges are different today," he said.

He said that FAO has developed new strategic objectives to respond to emerging global trends and challenges. These strategic objectives are: ending hunger and malnutrition; producing sustainably; reducing rural poverty; improving food systems and their fairness; and increasing resilience to external shocks.

Memorandum of Understanding signed

Graziano da Silva and Aalt Dijkhuizen, President of the Executive Board of the Wageningen University and Research Centre, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on collaboration over the next four years. It covers exchanges of information and policy dialogue, the joint promotion of education, research and technology capacities in developing countries, and exchange of scientific staff and young professionals among other things.]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/172064/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/172064/icode/ Thu, 14 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT UN lays foundations for more drought resilient societies A top-level UN conference has, for the first time, laid the foundations for practical and proactive national drought policies to increase resilience to the world’s most destructive natural hazard, which is being aggravated by climate change. Geneva, 15 March, 2013 – A top-level United Nations conference has, for the first time, laid the foundations for practical and proactive national drought policies to increase resilience to the world’s most destructive natural hazard, which is being aggravated by climate change.

The High-level Meeting on National Drought Policy marked the first globally-coordinated attempt to move towards science-based drought disaster risk reduction and break away from piecemeal and costly crisis-response, which often comes too late to avert death, displacement and destruction.

The meeting issued a declaration encouraging governments to develop and implement national drought management policies consistent with their development objectives. It also provided detailed scientific and policy guidance on how to achieve this.

“Prevention must be our priority,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon in a message to delegates. “Nations need urgently to develop strategies for resilience — especially for the poor, who are always hit first and worst.”

The meeting on 11-15 March was organized by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and other partners. It brought together more than 300 government decision-makers, development agencies, and leading scientists and researchers.

His Excellency Brigi Rafini , Prime Minister of Niger, which has suffered from repeated droughts, chaired the high-level segment, which was addressed by more than 20 ministers. The Prince of Orange, chairman of the Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, gave a keynote speech on the need for integrated water management.

“We have taken a major stride towards more proactive drought policies to protect lives and livelihoods. This is the first global dialogue on national drought policies and it has shown that we have the knowledge, we have the experience, and we have the determination to reduce the unacceptably high human and economic toll of drought,” said WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud.


“Building resilience to drought is not only a mitigation measure, but a smart investment with guaranteed high return. Post-disaster relief is way costlier than drought preparedness and risk management. Therefore, we call on governments and all stakeholders in drought-prone countries to engage in developing their national drought policies and we are ready to support them”, said UNCCD Executive Secretary Luc Gnacadja.

“The nature of drought and its effects on key sectors such as water, agriculture, meteorology, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, etc. call for close collaboration between these sectors and beyond in order for drought management to achieve its goals. Such collaboration has, unfortunately, been lacking. It is our hope that the collaboration between a large number of partners in the context of this High-level Meeting will constitute the starting point for lifting this constraint at all levels,” said Ann Tutwiler, Special Representative of FAO to the UN organizations in Geneva.

It has been estimated that droughts are the world’s costliest natural disaster, accounting for 6-8 billion US dollars annually, and impacting more people than any other form of natural disaster. Since 1900, over 11 million people have died as a result of droughts, and 2 billion people have been affected. The frequency, intensity, and duration of droughts are expected to rise as a result of climate change, with an increasing human and economic toll.

Since the 1970s, the land area affected by drought has doubled, undermining livelihoods, reversing development gains and entrenching poverty among millions of people who depend directly on the land. Women, children and the aged often pay the heaviest price.

Recurrent drought waves in vulnerable regions of Africa have attracted global attention because of the famines and massive social and economic disruptions. Drought in the Sahel reduced cereal production by 26 per cent in 2012 as compared to 2011. The situation remains critical, with over 10 million people still food insecure and 1.4 million children at risk of acute malnutrition.

But drought affects other regions as well, as witnessed in recent years in the United States, Russia, Europe, India, Brazil and Australia,  wreaking havoc on food supplies worldwide.

Presentations at the meeting showed that proactive drought management planning is now possible following major advances in science and technology, and knowledge about sustainable land management. Varied innovations also exist for national and regional drought monitoring, early warning systems, risk-based responses as well as mitigation and coping strategies.

The meeting issued a consensus declaration stressing the need for national drought management policies. Specifically, it encouraged governments to:

  • Develop proactive drought impact mitigation, preventive and planning measures, risk management, fostering of science, appropriate technology and innovation, public outreach and resource management as key elements of effective national drought policy.
  • Promote greater collaboration to enhance the quality of local/national/regional/global observation networks and delivery systems.
  • Improve public awareness of drought risk and preparedness for drought.
  • Consider, where possible within the legal framework of each country, economic instruments, and financial strategies, including risk reduction, risk sharing and risk transfer tools in drought management plans.
  • Establish emergency relief plans based on sound management of natural resources and self-help at appropriate governance levels.
  • Link drought management plans to local/national development policies.

Better drought management is one of the priorities of the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) now being implemented by governments with support from the United Nations. Climate services aim to increase drought resilience by improving climate information and services, especially for the most vulnerable. They will build on fast improving climate prediction capabilities.

The GFCS aims to give global access to improved services for four initial priority sectors – food security and agriculture, water, health and disaster risk reduction – by the end of 2017.

Outcomes of the high-level meeting will also be transmitted to the UNCCD Conference of Parties to be held in September 2013. Its last Conference in 2011 took a decision to formulate an advocacy policy framework on drought, taking gender-sensitive approaches into account.

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/172030/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/172030/icode/ Thu, 14 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT Mediterranean and Black Sea sharks risk extinction Shark populations in the Mediterranean and Black Sea have dropped dramatically over the last two centuries and now risk extinction, with serious implications for the region's entire marine ecosystem and food chains, according to a new FAO study. 14 March 2013, Rome - Shark populations in the Mediterranean and Black Sea have dropped dramatically over the last two centuries and now risk extinction, with serious implications for the region's entire marine ecosystem and food chains, according to a new FAO study.

"Sharks in the Mediterranean Sea have declined by more than 97 percent in number and ‘catch weight' over the last 200 years. They risk extinction if current fishing pressure continues," the study found.

In the Black Sea, although information is scarce, catches of the main shark species have also declined to about half of catches in the early 1990s.

"This loss of top predators could hold serious implications for the entire marine ecosystem, greatly affecting food webs throughout this region," it added.

The study, Elasmobranchs of the Mediterranean and Black Sea: Status, Ecology and Biology, was undertaken by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, one of several FAO regional bodies working in the fisheries sector.

Critically endangered

It found that cartilaginous fish species, such as sharks and rays, "are by far the most endangered group of marine fish in the Mediterranean and Black sea where 85 species are known to occur. Of 71 species assessed in the Mediterranean Sea in 2007, 30 (42 percent)  were found to be threatened, including 13 percent  critically endangered, 11 percent endangered and 13 percent vulnerable. Another 18 percent  were categorized as near-threatened.

Cartilaginous fish have skeletons made of cartilage, rather than bones. Within that group, sharks, rays and skates are scientifically termed Elasmobranchs. Their biological characteristics, including low fecundity, late maturity and slow growth make them more vulnerable than bony fish, as their regeneration rates are slower.

Issues such as "overfishing, wide use of non-selective fishing practices and habitat degradation" are therefore affecting these species more than others.

In general sharks and rays have not been deliberately targeted in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, but caught accidentally. Annual aggregated reported landings in the Mediterranean and Black Sea currently amount to some 7 000 tonnes, compared to 25 000 tonnes in 1985 - an indication of the severity of their decline.

At the same time, however fishing activities targeting sharks are intensifying due to rapidly increasing demand for shark fins, meat and cartilage.

Habitat disturbance

This is compounded by extensive damage to, or disturbance of, their habitats, caused by shipping, underwater construction and mining or by chemical, sound and electromagnetic contamination.

Among the most recent measures adopted by the Commission to protect sharks and rays is the prohibition of ‘finning' (removal of fins at sea and discarding of carcass) and the reduction of trawl fishing within 3 nautical miles off the coast to enhance protection of coastal sharks.

The Commission has also recommended Mediterranean and Black Sea countries to invest in scientific research programmes aimed at identifying potential nursery areas and to consider time and area closures to protect juveniles of sharks and rays from fishing activities.

Other initiatives undertaken by the Commission have included the organization of several meetings and  courses aimed at better understanding these species and their habitats and creating a background of Regional knowledge to guide GFCM Members in developing national plans to protect these key species.

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/171847/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/171847/icode/ Wed, 13 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT New metric to be launched on hunger and food insecurity A new, faster and more precise way of measuring hunger and food insecurity across the world is soon to be field-tested by FAO in several pilot countries. The new approach relies on gathering information on the extent and severity of hunger from food-insecure people through a carefully-designed annual survey. 13 March 2013, Rome - A new, faster and more precise way of measuring hunger and food insecurity across the world is soon to be field-tested by FAO in several pilot countries. 

The new approach relies on gathering information on the extent and severity of hunger from food-insecure people, through a carefully-designed annual survey to be conducted in collaboration with polling specialists Gallup, Inc.

Starting this month, the new approach - known as the Voices of the Hungry project -- will be finalized in collaboration with major experts in the field and tested on a pilot basis in four countries to be defined.

The plan is to then extend the survey to more than 160 000 respondents in up to 150 countries covered by the Gallup World Poll and to publish updated results on each country every year. The project will run for five years and will lead to the establishment of a new FAO-certified standard for food security monitoring that could then be easily adopted by other household surveys.

Essential tool in the fight against hunger

"This innovative method will be an essential tool for governments, civil society and other national and international organizations in the fight against hunger", says Jomo Sundaram, FAO Assistant Director-General for Economic and Social Development.

"It will also be  key to increasing the accountability of governments and in encouraging them to commit to hunger eradication".

Despite recent improvements, the methodology currently used by FAO is not able to provide a comprehensive picture of the many dimensions of hunger. At the moment, FAO is able to accurately monitor food availability at the national level, particularly in terms of potential energy intake, whereas the new indicator will measure food access at the individual level, and will provide a clearer idea of personal experiences with food insecurity.

The new approach will complement FAO's existing indicator on the percentage of undernourished in the population, which was developed to monitor progress towards the first Millennium Development Goal of halving the prevalence of hunger by 2015. This is a much needed addition, since it provides information on  a range of aspects that characterize the experience of food insecurity, rather than only caloric consumption.

Eight questions

Under the Voices of the Hungry project, nationally representative samples of 1 000 to 5 000 people, depending on the size of the country, will be selected to answer eight questions designed to reveal whether and how respondents have experienced food insecurity in the previous 12 months.

The questions are:

During the last 12 months, was there a time when, because of lack of money or other resources:

1.    You were worried you would run out of food?
2.    You were unable to eat healthy and nutritious food?
3.    You ate only a few kinds of foods?
4.    You had to skip a meal?
5.    You ate less than you thought you should?
6.    Your household ran out of food?
7.    You were hungry but did not eat?
8.    You went without eating for a whole day?

The questions are phrased in such a way as to establish the respondents' position on a Food Insecurity Experience Scale which differentiates between mild, moderate and severe food insecurity. Similar questionnaires and Food Insecurity Scales have been used by the US Government to identify food stamp beneficiaries, and by Brazil in targeting its Bolsa Familia social welfare programme.

An affordable and timely indicator

"This is an exciting new initiative for FAO because it will enable us to better understand the severity of food insecurity in a cost-effective and timely way," says Carlo Cafiero, the FAO statistician in charge of the project. "It  will also provide FAO with an affordable and methodologically consistent tool for monitoring hunger worldwide."

Results of the surveys will be available in days rather than years, allowing FAO to take an almost real-time snapshot of a nation's food insecurity situation. This will be the first occasion that FAO takes on responsibility for data collection. In parallel, FAO will assist countries to include the Scale in their ongoing survey plans and programmes to ensure future sustainability.

FAO is currently holding discussions with potential resource partners in order to mobilize funds for the overall Voices of the Hungry project, while the four-country pilot project will be financed by a separate initiative.]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/171728/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/171728/icode/ Tue, 12 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT AppliFish, marine knowledge at the touch of a button You want to know more about the fish you are eating or going to buy? Is it maybe an endangered species? AppliFish is a free mobile application developed by the fisheries and biodiversity knowledge platform i-Marine. It makes aquatic-related information available to anyone, anytime, anywhere. 12 March 2013, Rome - You want to know more about the fish you are eating or going to buy? Is it maybe an endangered species? AppliFish will tell you. This free mobile application developed by the fisheries and biodiversity knowledge platform i-Marine makes aquatic-related information available to anyone, anytime, anywhere.

While human consumption of fish products has doubled in the last half century, policies for sustainable use of aquatic ecosystems must address the challenges facing global fish stocks.

Some 30 percent of the world's marine fish stocks assessed in 2009 were overexploited, according to FAO's State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2012.

"With AppliFish, consumers can choose fish that's not endangered, helping ensure that there will be enough for future generations," says FAO's Marc Taconet, Senior Fishery Information Officer and chair of the iMarine board. "Consumers can also use the application to learn more about species, capture levels and habitats, as well as the level of threats faced by these species."

Informed choices for policy-makers and consumers

iMarine is a global consortium of 13 research institutes, universities and international organizations from three continents with €5  million in funding by the European Union (EU).

Its new application AppliFish also has a web version that contains additional scientific information, which can help policy-makers, producers and consumers make informed decisions, and contribute to shape policies necessary for the responsible management of fisheries and conservation of aquatic resources, as underlined in the  principles laid out in FAO's Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.

AppliFish adds on to i-Marine's applications for  managing, processing and visualizing scientific content to increase awareness of the challenges which aquatic ecosystems face.

These applications include the biodiversity mapping tool AquaMaps, the Vessel Transmitted Information Tool (VTI), reporting on vessel activity and environmental conditions for scientists working in fisheries, and the Integrated Capture Information System (ICIS), providing regional and global information on capture of aquatic species.

Over 550 species

AppliFish was awarded a prize at the 10th e-Infrastructure Concertation Meeting to discuss the present and future of the EU's research and innovation policy, held in Brussels on 6-7 March.

The application is designed as a pocket book of marine knowledge at the touch of a button. It offers basic information of over 550 marine species, such as a common names and sizes, distribution maps, as well as maps featuring expected changes in species distribution caused by climate change.

AppliFish combines data from authoritative, international sources, including FAO-FishFinder, FAO statistics, WoRMS, Fishbase, SeaLifeBase, IUCN, AquaMaps and OBIS, bringing together a wealth of expertise to create a community of practice in support of the ecosystem approach to fisheries management and conservation of marine living resources.

AppliFish is available both for Android and for iOS.

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/171646/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/171646/icode/ Tue, 12 Mar 2013 08:00:00 GMT FAO’s support in transforming the agriculture sector in Uganda FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva met with Ugandan Vice-President Edward Sekandi to discuss ways to ensure food security for all Ugandans and reduce poverty by supporting rural smallholders in the country's agriculture sector. The agriculture sector employs more than 80 percent of Uganda's population. 8 March 2013, Kampala/Rome - FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva met with Ugandan Vice-President Edward Sekandi to discuss ways to ensure food security for all Ugandans and reduce poverty by supporting rural smallholders in the country's agriculture sector.


Sekandi met with Graziano da Silva on behalf of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, during the FAO chief's one-day visit to Uganda.


Graziano da Silva commended the government of Uganda for its leadership in the country's efforts to improve agricultural development and climate change mitigation. He also pointed out that Uganda needs a major boost in agriculture to accelerate development. The agriculture sector employs more than 80 percent of Uganda's population.


"We agreed that for the agriculture sector to grow, Ugandans need to support both the small-scale rural subsistence farmers as well as building the bridge for small scale farmers who want to go into commercial farming," said the Director-General, who pledged FAO's support in transforming the country's agriculture sector.


Although Uganda generally has food, its food security and nutrition situation continues to face challenges, such as unequal food distribution and pockets of food insecurity in areas like Karamoja, in the northeast. Efforts, therefore, need to be made to ensure that nutritious food is well distributed and consumed in all parts of Uganda.


Priority areas and activities


Since 1981, FAO has been working with the Government of Uganda to design and implement policies and programmes aimed at eradicating the root causes of hunger, malnutrition and poverty, develop farmer organizations, study storage capabilities, and improve integrated water management systems and water harvesting.


FAO is currently implementing the  Country Programming Framework (2010-2014), which outlines priority areas and activities for FAO's assistance to Uganda, in support of the government's national development policy objectives in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, forestry, natural resources, and rural development.

Women and food security


As the world community observed International Women's Day, Graziano da Silva lamented that, in spite of the major role played by women in producing food and feeding their families, little attention has been paid to the key role rural women play in ensuring decent livelihoods for their households. 


"We will continue to support FAO member governments, including Uganda, in helping cooperatives and producer organizations to thrive, by developing adequate policies, legal frameworks, economic incentives, capacity building, and forums for dialogue on policy making," the FAO Director-General declared in a press conference.


In fulfilling its mandate to eradicate hunger and reduce poverty in sustainable ways, FAO generates evidence, knowledge and good practices which support the emergence of more self-reliant, inclusive, gender-equitable, and market-oriented producer organizations and cooperatives.


While in Uganda, Graziano da Silva met government officials and representatives of the private sector, academia, farmer organizations, and civil society, with whom he discussed the status of Uganda's agricultural sector, their respective contributions and the need for further assistance, especially through FAO.


In discussions with ministers, he underscored the importance of multi-sectoral and inter-ministerial coordination in tackling obstacles to agricultural development.

In order to improve the performance of small-scale and commercial farmers in the agriculture sector, Graziano da Silva emphasized the importance of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security, and said the country needs to urgently start a process of implementing the guidelines. This process would involve civil society and the private sector.


They agreed they should start this process with FAO's support.

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/171537/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/171537/icode/ Fri, 08 Mar 2013 10:00:00 GMT On International Women’s Day, FAO, IFAD, WFP and IDLO highlight link between women, violence and food security On International Women's Day this year, the global community is focusing on how to eliminate and prevent all forms of violence against women and girls. In spite of the major role played by women in producing food and feeding their families, little attention has been paid to the connection between gender, violence and food security. Joint statement from the leaders*of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Development Law Organization (IDLO).

* José Graziano da Silva, Director-General FAO; Kanayo F. Nwanze, President IFAD; Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director WFP; Irene Khan, Director-General IDLO.




8 March 2013, Rome - On International Women's Day this year, the global community is focusing on how to eliminate and prevent all forms of violence against women and girls. In spite of the major role played by women in producing food and feeding their families, little attention has been paid to the connection between gender, violence and food security.

Gender discrimination fuels female malnutrition and disempowerment. Very often, discriminatory practices in rural communities generate biases in intra-household food distribution, whereby women and girls usually have access to limited and less nutritious food.

Poor families may marry off under-age daughters during times of famine so there's one less mouth to feed. Refugee women may be forced to trade sex for food. Women spend hours collecting firewood to cook the family meal, leaving themselves vulnerable to rape and other attacks. Widows are persecuted over land ownership but, all too often, national laws favour men over women. Domestic violence has an overall negative impact on agricultural production and family well-being. For many women struggling to feed themselves and their children today, food security would mean personal and legal security.

If we unite to increase food security for women, we also nourish the minds and bodies of whole communities. If a girl can attend school in a safe environment, she can reach her full mental and physical potential. She can avoid early marriage, forced marriage or other forms of violence. If a woman can register the birth of her children, legally own land and the money she earns, she can contribute to the benefit of her society and its economic development.

Women make up more than 40 percent of the agricultural labour force in developing countries.  Improving equality in women's access to agricultural inputs (such as seeds, tools, fertilisers), education and public services would contribute significantly to achieving food security and better nutrition for all.  

Empowering women and girls legally and economically creates opportunities for development, enhances their political voice and reduces their vulnerability to violence. Food security links the diverse elements needed to build a peaceful and fair future for them.



FAO works to get at the root causes of hunger. Its mandate is to raise levels of nutrition, improve sustainable agricultural productivity, better the lives of rural populations, and contribute to the growth of the world economy.

IFAD works with poor rural people to enable them to grow and sell more food, increase their incomes and determine the direction of their own lives. Since 1978, IFAD has invested about US$14.8 billion in grants and low-interest loans to developing countries through projects empowering over 400 million people to break out of poverty. 

WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide.  Each year, on average, WFP feeds more than 90 million people in more than 70 countries.

IDLO enables governments and empowers people to reform laws and strengthen institutions to promote peace, justice, sustainable development and economic opportunity. It is the only intergovernmental organization with a mandate exclusively focused on the rule of law.]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/171299/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/171299/icode/ Fri, 08 Mar 2013 07:00:00 GMT United Nations launches concerted push for effective drought policies Droughts cause the deaths and displacement of more people than cyclones, floods and earthquakes combined, making them the world’s most destructive natural hazard. Yet while droughts are expected to increase in frequency, area and intensity due to climate change, effective drought management policies are missing in most parts of the world. Three UN institutions have now joined forces to promote proactive policies at the national level to make drought-prone countries more resilient. 8 March 2013, Geneva/Rome – Droughts cause the deaths and displacement of more people than cyclones, floods and earthquakes combined, making them the world’s most destructive natural hazard. Yet while droughts are expected to increase in frequency, area and intensity due to climate change, effective drought management policies are missing in most parts of the world. Three United Nations institutions have now joined forces to promote the development and adoption of practical and proactive policies at the national level to make drought-prone countries more resilient.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and other partners will hold a High-Level Meeting on National Drought Policy on 11-15 March 2013 in Geneva to focus on drought preparedness and management policies.

“Since time immemorial, drought has been a feature of the natural variability of our climate,” said WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud. “The frequency, intensity, and duration of droughts are expected to rise in several parts of the world as a result of climate change, with an increasing human and economic toll. We simply cannot afford to continue in a piecemeal, crisis-driven mode. We have the knowledge and experience to reduce the impact of drought. What we need now is the policy framework and action on the ground.”

“Despite being predictable, drought is the most costly and the deadliest disaster of our time. The decision to mitigate drought is ultimately political. Governments of all drought-prone countries need to adopt, mainstream and operationalize national drought policies, based on the principles of early warning, preparedness and risk management,” said UNCCD Executive Secretary Luc Gnacadja. “The cost of crisis management far exceeds that of risk management and early action and we should not wait until the next drought, causing famine and claiming human lives.”

“More extreme and frequent droughts resulting from climate change are having devastating food security impacts, especially in the most vulnerable regions of the world,” said FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva. “To buck this trend, we must build resilient, ‘drought-resistant’ communities. This means not simply reacting after the rains fail, but investing over the long-term, so that when drought does hit, people and food systems can weather the blow.”

The High-Level Meeting on National Drought Policy brings together world leaders, government decision-makers, development agencies, and leading scientists and researchers. Government leaders include His Excellency Issoufou Mahamadou, President of the Republic of Niger, whose country has been repeatedly hit by devastating droughts, most recently in 2011-2012.

Heavy Human and Economic Toll

Since the 1970s, the land area affected by drought has doubled. Women, children and the aged often pay the heaviest price.

Most recently, droughts have affected the  Greater Horn of Africa and the Sahel region, the USA, Mexico, Northeast Brazil, parts of China and India, Russia and Southeast Europe. The most vulnerable countries are in the world’s drylands, with the poorest communities in Africa and parts of western Asia are at particular risk.

The effects can last long after the rains return, with food remaining scarce and expensive and depleted water resources, eroded soils, weakened livestock, and legal and social conflicts lingering for years. Often, droughts are broken by major flood events, so they catch communities when they are most vulnerable, and add to the damages experienced.

Today, 168 countries claim to be affected by desertification, a process of land degradation in the drylands that affects food production and is exacerbated by drought. At the Rio+20 Sustainable Development Conference held last June in Brazil, world leaders identified desertification, land degradation and drought as global challenges and committed to strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world, in which degradation of new areas is avoided and unavoidable degradation is offset by restoring an equal amount of land in the same time and in the same ecosystem.This is an achievable target. Sustainable land management practices, including restoring degraded lands and improving soil and water management that help to mitigate drought already exist, but need to be reflected, supported and scaled up by national policies.

From Crisis Management to Disaster Risk Reduction

The purpose of the High-Level Meeting on National Drought Policy is to encourage countries to move from crisis management to disaster risk reduction – an approach already successfully embraced for hazards such as tropical cyclones and floods.

Specific targets include:

  • Proactive mitigation and planning measures, risk management, public outreach and resource stewardship as key elements of effective national drought policy;
  • Greater collaboration to enhance the national, regional and global observation networks and information delivery systems to improve public understanding of, and preparedness for, drought;
  • Incorporation of comprehensive governmental and private insurance and financial strategies into drought preparedness plans;
  • Recognition of a safety net of emergency relief based on sound stewardship of natural resources and self-help at diverse governance levels;
  • Coordination of drought programmes and response in an effective, efficient and customer-oriented manner.

Increasing Resilience, Focusing Efforts

Better drought management is one of the priorities of the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) now being implemented by governments with support from the United Nations. Climate services aim to increase drought resilience by improving climate information and services, especially for the most vulnerable. They will build on fast improving climate prediction capabilities.

The GFCS aims to give global access to improved services for four priority sectors – food security and agriculture, water, health and disaster risk reduction – by the end of 2017.]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/171336/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/171336/icode/ Thu, 07 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT Increased wheat production seen in 2013 First forecasts for the 2013 wheat harvest point to production increasing to 690 million tonnes – 4.3 percent up on 2012. This would be the second largest crop on record. Meanwhile the FAO Food Price Index remains unchanged at 210 points for the second consecutive month in February. 7 March 2013, Rome - First forecasts for the 2013 wheat harvest point to production increasing to 690 million tonnes - 4.3 percent up on 2012. This would be the second largest crop on record, according to the latest issue of FAO's quarterly Crop Prospects and Food Situation report.

The production hike is expected mostly in Europe, driven by increased plantings in response to high prices and a recovery in yields in some countries, notably the Russian Federation.

The outlook in the United States, while less favourable because of earlier drought conditions, has improved somewhat over the last few weeks.

Meanwhile, the recently lower prices of wheat and, to some extent, maize kept the FAO Food Price Index - also published today -- unchanged at 210 points for the second consecutive month in February. That is 2.5 percent, or five points, less than in February 2012.

Since November 2012 the Index has moved within a narrow 210 - 212 point range as increases in the prices of dairy products and oils/fats were largely balanced out by declines in the prices of cereals and sugar.

Too early for global cereals forecast

At this stage of the season, with the bulk of the coarse grains and paddy crops yet to be planted it is still too early for even a preliminary global cereal forecast for 2013.

But prospects for the first 2013 coarse grains crops in the southern hemisphere are generally favourable. Rice prospects are also encouraging in several countries below the equator.

The Crop Prospects and Food Situation report focuses on developments affecting the food security situation of developing countries. In its review of food insecurity hotspots, the report highlights the following countries, among others:

Syria, where an estimated 4 million people are in urgent need of food and livelihood assistance as severe civil conflict continues.  In addition, the Syrian refugees are putting strain on other countries in the region. Some international food assistance is being provided.

Democratic People's Republic of Korea, where a dry spell in May-June 2012 followed by localized floods in July-August cut crop production and damaged agricultural infrastructure. Chronic food insecurity exists in the country, with 2.8 million severely vulnerable people requiring food assistance during the 2012-13.

Escalating conflict

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo escalating conflict has increased the total number of internally displaced people to an estimated 2.7 million. Agricultural activities have been hindered, especially in the eastern areas, while high food prices continue. Nationally, a total of 6.4 million people are estimated to be in a state of food and livelihood crisis.

Mali, where insecurity in the northern part of the country has disrupted food commodity flows and resulted in large population displacements. This has worsened the already precarious food situation created by drought in 2011.

Sudan, where about 3.5 million people are estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance, mainly in conflict areas.

Regarding international food prices, FAO's Cereal Price Index averaged 245 points in February, down by just less than 1 percent from January but still 8 percent higher than in February 2012.

The FAO Oils/Fats Price Index averaged 206 points in February, up 0.4 percent from January. The rise was driven by palm oil, mainly reflecting the expected seasonal production slowdown and reduction in inventories from their current high levels.

The FAO Dairy Price Index averaged 203 points in February, 2.4 percent, or 5 points up from January,  representing the most substantial increase since September 2012. The rise was principally a reflection of falling production in Oceania due to hot weather.

The FAO Meat Price Index averaged 178 points in February, the same as January.  Poultry prices were slightly lower and pork marginally higher, while other types of meat remained largely unchanged.  The meat index has remained substantially stable since October 2012.

The FAO Sugar Price Index averaged 259 points in February, down 3 percent, or 8.6 points, from January. Prices declined for the fourth consecutive month, on the expectation of a relatively large world production surplus and improved export availabilities in 2012-13.  

 

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/171320/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/171320/icode/ Wed, 06 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT Ending hunger and malnutrition in Malawi Crop diversification, increasing the productivity and production of farmers through small-scale irrigation projects, improving local market systems, and other actions being implemented by the government could give a strong push to the eradication of hunger and malnutrition in Malawi, Director-General José Graziano da Silva said today. 06 March 2013, Lilongwe – Crop diversification, increasing the productivity and production of farmers through small-scale irrigation projects, improving local market systems, and other actions being implemented by the government could give a strong push to the eradication of hunger and malnutrition in Malawi, Director-General José Graziano da Silva said today, following a high-level discussion with President Joyce Banda of Malawi and EU Development Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs.
 
“It was interesting to hear about government programs to support small-scale livestock production and crop diversification,” Graziano da Silva said.
 
“FAO is ready to increase its assistance to develop agriculture, improve food security and increase the income of poor families in Malawi. Linking agriculture to social protection and empowering gender are ways to consolidate and build on the gains so far,” added the FAO Director-General.
 
He also noted the importance of involving the private sector and civil society organizations in the fight against hunger and malnutrition and building the government’s capacity.

Graziano da Silva and Piebalgs are leading an EU-FAO joint mission to Malawi to discuss with the Government ways to support increasing food security and sustainable agricultural production in the country.

At the meeting, President Banda highlighted the presidential initiative to diversify and improve local production and nutrition that was launched two weeks ago. She added that small-scale irrigation projects and marketing assistance to absorb the increased production by farmers could encourage Malawian farmers to produce even more.
 
EU Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs noted the importance of addressing agriculture, food security and malnutrition together in a coherent and coordinated manner.
 
FAO, the EU and the Government of Malawi also agreed that sustainable land use and the rights that go with it should be part of the rural development work being done. This effort will be supported by the national implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security, which were endorsed in May 2012 by the Committee on World Food Security.

Learning from programmes that work


According to the FAO Director-General, Malawi has made important progress against hunger: “It is on track to meet the first Millennium Development Goal and can realistically set even higher targets.”

However, he recalled that the country still faces many challenges and that many of them are immediate.
 
“As President Banda pointed out, late rains in the current agricultural season put additional pressure on food security especially in the southern region,” he said.

Banda, Graziano da Silva and Piebalgs also discussed how Malawi could benefit from the experiences of and lessons learned from other countries in tackling hunger and malnutrition, such as the Brazilian Zero Hunger Strategy. President Banda welcomed the proposal and also gave her support to the partnership between FAO, the African Union and Instituto Lula to intensify efforts to end hunger in Africa.

Graziano da Silva and the EU Commissioner are also visiting several EU and FAO projects during their stay in Malawi. In Chingonthi, for example, FAO supports a community grain storage project that aims to reduce post-harvest losses of maize by improving storage facilities and marketing.

The communities will receive further support and training to ultimately become cooperatives, so that they can scale up their farming activities with better market integration.  

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/171294/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/171294/icode/ Tue, 05 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT EU and FAO underline support for nutrition and food security in Malawi During a high level visit to Malawi, EU Development Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, and José Graziano da Silva, FAO Director-General, met with President Joyce Banda to discuss the country's challenges on nutrition and food security and to underline ongoing EU and FAO support in this area. 5 March 2013, Brussels/Rome/Lilongwe - During a high level visit to Malawi, EU Development Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, and José Graziano da Silva, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), met today with President Joyce Banda to discuss the country's challenges on nutrition and food security, and to underline ongoing EU and FAO support in this area.

Malawi has made progress in the fight against hunger but malnutrition remains endemic in the country, with over 47 percent of children suffering from stunting (when growth is held back due to a lack of access to nutritious food). This affects their development and it also causes increased vulnerability to diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said: "The EU and the FAO share the same vision on nutrition and food security, and we will work together to help Malawi, and all of sub-Saharan Africa, tackle this problem. That is why I have announced my commitment to reducing the number of children who are stunted in the world by at least 7 million by 2025 and I am fully committed to make this pledge a reality."

Graziano da Silva, said: "Malawi has committed itself at the highest level to ending hunger and extreme poverty. It recognizes the right to food, invests in excess of 10 percent of its national budget in agriculture, and has transformed itself from an importer into an exporter of maize. The result is that Malawi is on track to meet the Millennium Development hunger target.

"FAO will continue to support the government's efforts in promoting food security and nutrition and tackling extreme poverty through an integrated and coordinated approach, involving social protection and other sectors that contribute to these goals," the Director-General added.

During several meetings to be held with Malawian ministers and authorities, Commissioner Piebalgs and Director-General Graziano da Silva were expected to stress the importance of efficient and effective coordination mechanisms between the different ministries in order to ensure food security.

They will visit a series of EU projects, including food security and agricultural centres, as well as a grain storage facility funded by FAO. They will also meet with representatives from the private sector, where they will also discuss the importance of investing in agriculture, which employs 87 percent of the population and accounts for about 36 percent of GDP, as well as for more than 70 percent of export revenues.

Background

In November 2012 at the EU's European Development Days in Brussels, Commissioner Piebalgs and President Banda signed two agreements. The first, on agriculture, for an amount of €63 million, was designed to strengthen agricultural productivity and expand the area of land under irrigation, doubling household incomes in agriculture and contributing to 6 percent annual growth in Malawi.

The second EU contribution of €35 million will fund cash transfers to extremely poor households to help them out of poverty and hunger. It will make families more resistant to shocks such as high food prices, but will also improve school enrolment and health. This EU support is expected to provide benefits to a total of 83,000 households.

The EU is a major donor in Malawi, spending €605 million under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) between 2008-2013. That money is divided between: General Budget Support (€196 million), agriculture and food security (€188 million) and regional interconnection (€70 million) with a focus on road infrastructure. The rest is spent on areas such as governance, trade, water, HIV-AIDS and gender.

FAO has been supporting Malawi since 1986 in the design and implementation of policies and programmes to improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries and to ensure food security and good nutrition for all.


In the coming year FAO will be focusing on supporting the country in the implementation of its Agriculture Sector Wide Approach (ASWAp) which reflects the priorities of the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy II and the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) of the African Union.


FAO will also, in partnership with the African Union Commission, the EU Commisssion and partners such as Brazil's Instituto Lula call on Member States, Civil Society, the private sector, Regional Economic Communities and Development Partners to join in the proposed partnership for "Intensifying efforts to End Hunger in Africa."

FAO's engagement in this partnership stems from the Organization's recent efforts to strengthen the identification and delivery of a focused set of products and services requested by member states in order to achieve a tangible impact at country level. Towards this aim, FAO is working with all member states to prepare Country Programming Frameworks that identify priority areas of intervention.

FAO's new decentralization strategy and this partnership provide an opportunity to achieve concrete results and maximum impact.

  

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/171061/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/171061/icode/ Mon, 04 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT Cell phones revolutionizing Kenya’s livestock sector Farmers and veterinarians across Africa are increasingly using cell phones to issue alerts quickly about possible animal disease outbreaks at a very early stage and to track wide-scale vaccination campaigns. Mobile phone applications are making ‘early warning’ a matter of seconds instead of weeks for animal disease outbreaks, and essential veterinary care can be tracked with pinpoint accuracy and speed. 1 March 2013, Rome - Farmers and veterinarians across Africa are increasingly using cell phones to issue alerts quickly about possible animal disease outbreaks at a very early stage and to track wide-scale vaccination campaigns.

Mobile phone applications are making ‘early warning’ a matter of seconds instead of weeks for animal disease outbreaks, and essential veterinary care can be tracked with pinpoint accuracy and speed, thanks to the Global Positioning System function now directly integrated in most cell phones.

“FAO and partners are piggy-backing on this enormous uptake of mobile phone technology for uses in reporting animal disease outbreaks, tracking vaccination campaigns and the delivery of veterinary treatments, such as deworming animals,”  said Robert Allport, FAO Kenya’s Assistant FAO Representative for Programme Implementation.

EpiCollect tracks animals’ medical history via the mobile Web

In Kenya, for example, where three out of four people now have a mobile phone, FAO has partnered with the Royal Veterinary College and local NGO Vetaid, to  support the pilot testing of a mobile phone application developed by researchers at the Imperial College London’s School of Public Health. The application, called EpiCollect, helps to track animal vaccination and treatment campaigns. The application and storage space are provided for free on the EpiCollect website, which assigns a unique location for each project. That location is known only to the users – such as national veterinary officials and field vets – involved in the project. The EpiCollect database is not searchable, so prying eyes won’t find potentially sensitive information.

“Cellular phones eliminate delays in receiving field data, since all the information is relayed via the mobile network,” said Allport. In addition, the information is assigned a geographic location, so locations are extremely accurate and available in real-time.

Until only some five years ago, veterinarians would have to travel to remote locations, record data, and then travel back to district-level offices to process the paperwork. Now, the information can be transmitted in real time. The data – for example on the total number of livestock in a herd and the number of animals vaccinated – is stored and then relayed to the project location on a project-specific website. As herds move from one location to another, for example for fresh pasture, their movements can be regularly followed and updated.

Skipping the wired Internet directly to Web 2.0

At present, EpiCollect is only being used by field veterinarians with phones provided by Google Kenya for the testing phase, as the tools are honed and glitches ironed out according to feedback coming from users. Eventually, the tools could be made available to village elders and well-established networks of community animal health workers, as more and more Kenyans upgrade to Internet-enabled phones and prices for the technology inevitably come down. Although only a third of Kenyans have access to the Internet at present, 99 percent of those Internet subscriptions are for access from a mobile phone.

FAO also has a Global Animal Disease Information System, known as EMPRES-i, which can house and display data on disease outbreaks gathered from the field once outbreaks are confirmed. FAO has developed the EMPRES-i Event Mobile Application (EMA), which will feed reports on animal disease outbreaks into the database. The technology, available for phones with Blackberry and Android operating sytems, is scheduled to be field tested by Ugandan veterinary services in the first half of 2013 as a first pilot supported by the government of Ireland. EMA is also being developed for iPhones.

Without delays, animal diseases can be quickly detected and isolated when alerts come in digitally. Early warning can prevent the death of tens of thousands of animals, thus safeguarding livelihoods and food security, and preventing diseases that can sometimes be passed to humans.

“The FAO EMPRES-i system is truly a global public good, and our reporting and response times are being constantly improved, now thanks to incredible technology,” said Juan Lubroth, the FAO’s Chief Veterinary Officer. “Prevention, preparedness and early response are powerful concepts that when translated into tools can be effectively used against infectious diseases, thereby safeguard people’s livelihoods, fend off hunger and, in some cases, human illness,” he added.

In addition, FAO’s Regional Emergency Office for East and Central Africa, partnered with Oxfam, is using Nokia Data Gathering (NDG) to monitor water points in pastoralist areas as an early warning indicator for drought in Kenya and Ethiopia. Communities  monitor water levels regularly via Internet-enabled phones. In the Karamoja area of neighbouring Uganda, the same NDG system is being used by local chiefs to monitor drought indicators to allow for early response, in partnership with ACTED.

FAO is also assessing how mobile technologies can be used to better link livestock producers with markets and livestock traders.

“Traders won’t travel to a remote area to purchase animals unless they have a guarantee that they will be able to buy a minimum number of animals. Otherwise, the expense of making the trip isn’t worthwhile,” FAO Kenya’s Allport said. “But if sellers at market can relay information to a central point about how many animals they have, where and at what price, then the market functions more efficiently and pricing becomes more transparent. They can also collectively bargain for better prices.”

Digital pens for writing in the field

In a number of countries in Africa, Kenya included, a new-fangled version of the old fashioned pen and paper is giving added appeal to digital data gathering in the countryside. Not only is the information relayed in seconds to a central server for analysis, but also the pens enable veterinarians to write the same way they always have done, chatting with farmers without the ‘interference’ that modern mobile technologies can create.

“One of the most important aspects of a veterinarian’s work is building up a good relationship and trust with farmers and people,” explained Phillip Fong, FAO’s Regional Data and Information Officer based in Nairobi, who had earlier introduced digital pens to Southern Africa, where they have proven a success.

Field workers and veterinarians cannot take endless minutes punching in information on a phone, trying to find the small keys on a touch screen that might be impossible to see in the bright sunlight.

A digital pen, however, has a miniature infrared camera that records writing as the pen passes over paper, sends the data wirelessly using Bluetooth technology to a cell phone and then onward to a central server for analysis.

The knock-on benefits of mobile technology appear as limitless as human imagination.

EpiCollect is funded by the Wellcome Trust, a UK-based charitable foundation

Nokia Data Gathering is also freely available as part of Nokia’s corporate social responsibility programme]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/170807/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/170807/icode/ Fri, 01 Mar 2013 09:00:00 GMT FAO pays tribute to Dr Nevin Scrimshaw FAO pays tribute to prominent US food scientist Dr Nevin S. Scrimshaw,who has died at age 95, stating: "He dedicated his life's work to the alleviation of malnutrition and hunger, benefiting the lives of millions of people throughout the developing world. As a one of the original nutrition pioneers, he developed and promoted numerous malnutrition solutions. 1 March 2013, Rome - The UN Food and Agriculture Organization today paid tribute to the prominent US food scientist Dr Nevin S. Scrimshaw, who recently died at age 95.

The Organization said in a statement:  "It was with great sorrow that FAO learned of the death of Dr Scrimshaw. During a career spanning over 70 years he dedicated his life's work to the alleviation of malnutrition and hunger, benefiting the lives of millions of people throughout the developing world. As a one of the original nutrition pioneers, he developed and promoted numerous malnutrition solutions through his leadership of research programmes and establishment of dedicated nutrition institutes.

"He will be remembered for his innumerable accomplishments, but for FAO his most enduring legacy will be in the area of food composition.  Dr. Scrimshaw recognized very early in his career that food composition data provides the fundamental underpinning to every activity in nutrition.

"At the same time, he observed with dismay that many nutrition interventions were being implemented throughout the world with no understanding of the nutrient contents of local foods and diets.  Under the auspices of United Nations University, he created the International Network of Food Data Systems, INFOODS, in the mid-1980s to address this neglected work.  In the mid-1990's, FAO joined with UNU in support of INFOODS, and since 1999 FAO has hosted the INFOODS Secretariat.

Food composition still under-valued

"Owing to Dr Scrimshaw's vision, INFOODS and its Regional Data Centres have been active and productive for almost 25 years. Food composition is still under-valued in nutrition, as Dr. Scrimshaw noted in his keynote address to the 8th International Food Data Conference in Bangkok in 2009, but its importance is increasingly being recognized by other sectors, including trade, where nutrition labeling is important, and by the environmental sector, where sustainable diets are an issue.  It was at this Conference that the first Nevin Scrimshaw prize was awarded, and Dr Scrimshaw was, fittingly, its first recipient.

"Dr. Scrimshaw was the founder and Honorary President of the Nevin Scrimshaw International Nutrition Foundation, and the recipient of hundreds of awards and honors, the highlight being the 1991 World Food Prize in recognition of a "lifetime of action to alleviate malnutrition in developing nations".

Barbara Burlingame, FAO's Principal Nutrition Officer and INFOODS coordinator from 1995-2011, added: "Dr Scrimshaw will be remembered as the nutrition world's superhero, and we in FAO's Nutrition Division will always honor his legacy."]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/170902/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/170902/icode/ Thu, 28 Feb 2013 23:00:00 GMT International guidelines take aim at illegal fishing (IUU) Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) remains one of the greatest threats to sustainable fisheries and related livelihoods. International guidelines developed through an FAO-led process aim to cut down on IUU fishing by improving the accountability of flag states - those countries which register fishing vessels and authorize them to fly their flags. 28 February 2013, Rome – After several years of negotiations, countries have taken a major step against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU), one of the greatest threats to sustainable fisheries and related livelihoods.

International guidelines developed through an FAO-led consultative process aim to cut down on IUU fishing by improving the accountability of flag states - those countries which register fishing vessels and authorize them to fly their flags.

The Voluntary Guidelines for Flag State Performance were agreed upon after over five years of consensus-building among FAO Member Countries. The guidelines will be presented to the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) for endorsement at its next Session in June, 2014.


The guidelines include recommended approaches to encourage and help flag states comply with their international duties and obligations regarding the flagging and control of fishing vessels. They also present possible actions in response to non-compliance.

While no exact figures are known, it is widely accepted that IUU fishing has escalated in the past two decades and its magnitude is considerable.

The Technical Consultation was funded by the Governments of Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United States of America, and by the European Commission.

A breakthrough

“The Voluntary Guidelines for Flag State Performance are a real breakthrough. They will be a valuable tool in efforts to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing,” said Árni Mathiesen, FAO Assistant Director-General for Fisheries and Aquaculture.

“Ultimately, these guidelines can help to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of precious, living marine resources and ecosystems,” Mathiesen added.

“We all face the challenge of sustainability, and these guidelines give countries a new way to work together to meet this challenge.”

The proposed guidelines are wide-ranging and include, among other things, performance assessment criteria and procedures for carrying out assessments, and the cooperation between flag states and coastal states. They also look at ways to encourage compliance and deter non-compliance by flag states; ways to cooperate with and assist developing states in capacity development, and the role that FAO can play in supporting these processes.

FAO support

In addition to facilitating the development of the guidelines, FAO will monitor and report on implementation of the guidelines to COFI. It will also provide in-country technical assistance to countries requiring support. That support may include capacity-building measures like the development of an adequate legal and regulatory framework; strengthening of institutional organization and infrastructure needed to ensure adequate control of vessels; the development or improvement of monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) of fishing vessels, and training.

“Some flag States may need more support than others, especially developing countries. In certain cases, they may lack the institutional setup and technical know-how. They may be short on human and financial resources. Or, they may lack the drive to direct their efforts and to invest their available resources in the effective implementation of their duties under international laws relevant to fishing, in which case there is a greater need to build awareness of the long-term benefits of compliance,” said Matthew Camilleri, Fishery Liaison Officer within the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy and Economics Division.

The Guidelines draw on existing international law, like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and other international instruments such as the 1995 FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the 2001 FAO International Plan of Action to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing.

Committee on Fisheries
 

COFI is the only global inter-governmental forum where major international fisheries and aquaculture problems and issues are periodically examined and recommendations are addressed to governments, regional fishery bodies, NGOs, fish workers, FAO and the international community.

COFI has emphasized the fundamental importance of compliance by flag States with their duties under international law.

For more information on the Voluntary Guidelines for Flag State performance and other international instruments related to combating IUU fishing, see: http://www.fao.org/fishery/en

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/170570/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/170570/icode/ Thu, 28 Feb 2013 09:00:00 GMT FAO and CGIAR Consortium form strategic partnership FAO and the CGIAR Consortium of international agricultural research centres have formed a strategic partnership aimed at boosting the impact of their activities.In a Memorandum of Understanding the two organizations have pledged to engage in "a strategic partnership, building on the institutional strengths of both organizations, in order to increase the effectiveness and impact of their work". 28 February 2013, Rome - FAO and the Consortium of International Agriculture Research Centers (CGIAR Consortium) have formed a strategic partnership aimed at boosting the impact of their activities.

In a Memorandum of Understanding signed here today, and building on years of collaboration, the two organizations formally pledged to engage in "a strategic partnership, building on the institutional strengths of both organizations, in order to increase the effectiveness and impact of their work".

The MoU was signed by FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva and Carlos Pérez del Castillo, CGIAR Consortium Board Chair.

Greatest challenge

"Feeding the world without destroying  the planet is the greatest challenge facing humanity in coming decades," said Pérez del Castillo.

"This Memorandum is a signal of our resolve to strengthen our partnership with FAO seeking tangible opportunities for alignment and joint actions. We believe this partnership will boost our ability to scale up our efforts and make a powerful, joint contribution to the world's food security needs," he added. 

"The agreement will help put the research developed by the CGIAR Consortium within the reach of smallholder producers around the world," said Graziano da Silva.

"This is an important partnership for FAO, as the CGIAR Consortium research centres and corporative programmes have an important contribution to make to the areas that FAO focuses on: eradicating hunger, producing and managing resources sustainably, reducing rural poverty, improving participation of smallholders in food systems and increasing resilience in rural communities," added the Director-General.

Under the renewable, five-year agreement, FAO will provide the CGIAR Consortium with advice on priorities for agricultural research based on FAO's work for member governments, as well as information on priority programmes or activities FAO is implementing.

Scaling up innovation

The CGIAR Consortium will advise FAO on the potential for scaling up innovation in agriculture and updated information on CGIAR Research Programs.

One particular area of cooperation with FAO will involve making new technologies developed by CGIAR and others available to small-scale farmers. 

The CGIAR Consortium is an international organization made up of 15 Centres engaged in research for a food-secure future, whose main role is to oversee the implementation of the CGIAR's Strategy and Results Framework, including the CGIAR Research Programmes.

The Consortium, together with its financing arm, the CGIAR Fund, was established in 2010 in a reform of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, a worldwide network of agricultural research centres created four decades earlier.

CGIAR research is dedicated to reducing rural poverty, increasing food security, improving human health and nutrition, and ensuring more sustainable management of natural resources. It is carried out in close collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations, including national and regional research institutes, civil society organizations, academia, and the private sector.

FAO's mandate is to raise levels of nutrition, improve agricultural productivity, better the lives of rural populations and contribute to the growth of the world economy. Eradicating hunger and achieving food security for all is at the heart of FAO's efforts - to make sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/170746/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/170746/icode/ Thu, 28 Feb 2013 04:00:00 GMT FAO hosts panel discussion on “One Billion Hungry: Can we Feed the World?” 27 February 2013, Rome – Sir Gordon Conway presented his recently published book, One Billion Hungry: Can we feed the world?, today at FAO headquarters, during a seminar focusing on the urgent need to sustainably increase agricultural production to feed and nourish a growing world population confronted especially by the challenge of a warming climate.

The presentation was followed by a panel discussion with participation of the heads of the United Nations’ three food agencies based in Rome: FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva, IFAD President, Kanayo F. Nwanze, and WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin.

Citing FAO data, Conway noted that to meet the food needs of one third more people – 9 billion – by 2050, food production will have to increase by 60 percent.

However, Conway maintained, in developing countries that increase will have to be even higher. In some cases, he said, that production could even have to double in areas where smallholder farming will be feeding the world’s poorest.

In addition to the endemic problem of hunger, Conway said that “the really shocking statistic is there are 180 million children who are under height for their age, who grow up stunted, may become blind, may die. We should be ashamed of that statistic,” Conway said.

“The answer lies in sustainable agriculture, in which the productivity is high, the stability is high, the resilience is high, and the equity is high – in other words, the sharing of the products is also high.

In this, Conway noted, he had also borrowed from FAO’s principles of Save and Grow.

To achieve all of those, Conway said, four things are needed: innovation, markets, people and political leadership.

FAO’s Graziano da Silva commented afterward with optimism that these are all possible, but only so long as certain conditions are met, including: applying the principles of Save and Grow; placing smallholder agriculture at the centre of the global effort; putting in place a more effective global system for governance regarding food security; bringing farmers together in partnerships with cooperatives, the public and private sector; and linking hunger eradication with poverty eradication.

“Nowadays people don’t eat not because there isn’t any food available. We produce enough food for all. We throw out a third of the food we produce. We have hunger because people cannot buy the food or produce it themselves,” Graziano da Silva said.

He noted that the elimination of hunger had to be a political decision, on the part of the whole of society, in order to relegate hunger to the past. It isn’t the responsibility of a government, or an NGO, or an organization alone. It must be done as a community.

IFAD’s President Nwanze said, “Above all, I was glad to see Sir Gordon acknowledge that farmers in developing countries are ‘skilled and knowledgeable and often highly innovative.’

“I have seen the ability of poor rural people to transform their farms, their lives, and their communities,” Nwanze continued, adding that “feeding the future will depend on sustainable development that respects and responds to local conditions, whether environmental or cultural, so that the land is not diminished nor the resource base depleted.”

The Executive Director of WFP thanked Conway for his contribution in the fight against hunger – one that also gives hope. “There is a recognition of a way forward that does not suggest any one way forward to eradicate hunger,” Cousin said.

“It will take everything from trade laws, to seeds in the ground, to how we deal with gender and innovation. So there is significant work that needs to be done simultaneously so that we can eradicate hunger.”

She like her fellow panellists agreed that doing so would however need to be “an all-in opportunity” to eradicate hunger as a community.

Sir Gordon Conway is Professor of International Development and head of the Agriculture for Impact programme, which advocates for more European government support for agricultural development in sub-Saharan Africa at Imperial College London. 

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/170776/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/170776/icode/ Wed, 27 Feb 2013 22:00:00 GMT