FAO Director General José Graziano da Silva shares the panel with the Prime Minister Freundel Stuart

FAO in partnership with multi-stakeholders hosted two side-events at the SIDS Conference 2014, which was recently held in Apia, Samoa. The side events respectively focussed on fostering ocean economies and food security in small island developing states.

The Blue Growth/ Blue Economy initiative aims to promote the sustainable use and conservation of aquatic renewable resources, in an economically, socially and environmentally responsible way. Oceans provide a substantial portion of the global population with food and livelihoods. More than 58 million people are directly employed in fisheries and aquaculture and 10-12% of the global population is dependent on the sector.  

Foreign Minister of Seychelles, Jean-Paul Adam stated the importance of the Blue Growth initiative for his country. “Blue Growth should be maintained in a sustainable way for income generation, job creation, livelihood and should be preserved for generations to come”.  World Bank Vice President, Rachel Kyte  emphasised the balance between economic growth and conservation in moving the initiative forward. “ An ocean based economy is essential to help SIDS move from poverty”, Ms Kyte said.

The Improved Food Security, Nutrition and Livelihoods side-event highlighted food insecurity and malnutrition. This FAO-led multi-stakeholder dialogue provided participants to exchange views on some possible approaches, options and actions that will promote food security and nutrition. Climate change was discussed as a major factor that threatens the underlying natural resource base and ecosystem upon which food security, nutrition and livelihood depends.

FAO Director General José Graziano da Silva called for a comprehensive and integrated approach to: food and nutrition security; the need to combine local and global action; capturing and creating new opportunities; strengthening partnerships for concrete results; and taking immediate action on climate change which is already having a severe impact on food security and natural resources.