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Dear colleagues,

I thank the Global Landscapes Forum for organizing the plenary on such a relevant topic and for inviting the Chairperson of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) to provide opening remarks today.

Before donning the hat of the CFS Chairperson, allow me to speak briefly with my national hat as Ambassador at Large of Global Food Security of Spain.

My country is one of the partners of the coalition for transforming food systems though agroecology and signatory to the “Agroecology Declaration of Engagement” that has been signed by 27 countries and around 35 organizations, so far.

As the first agroecological producer in service of the EU and number 4th in the world, we are delighted to see momentum for agroecological transition grow exponentially.

Now, with my CFS Chair hat on.

I wish to commend the coalition and all partners involved for coming together to drive the uptake of the policy recommendations on Agroecology and other Innovative Approaches endorsed by CFS in June this year.

As many or you already know, CFS is the most inclusive intergovernmental and inclusive global platform for all to build science/evidence-based consensus on key issues needed to achieve zero hunger and zero malnutrition globally, through sustainable agriculture and food systems.

At the CFS, 133 member states, the UN System, the Private Sector, the Civil Society, CGIAR, Philanthropic institutions, the World Bank and others -informed by CFS High-Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) come together to address critical, and sometimes difficult and sensitive, issues on food security and nutrition like agroecological and other innovative approaches.

The policy recommendations on agroecological and other innovative approaches, highlight the need to:

• Adopt context-appropriate transition pathways towards food systems that are resilient, equitable, diversified, support climate change adaptation and mitigation, provide healthy diets accessible for all, and respect human rights – for current and future generations;
• Improve the sustainability and resilience of agriculture and food systems, by reducing their pressure on natural resources and negative environmental impacts, while mitigating climate change;
• Promote recycling, optimizing, or reducing, as appropriate, the reliance on external inputs, and facilitate the regeneration of soil health with the final objective on protecting and improving the human, animal, plant health and the environment; and
• Integrate sustainability in its three dimensions (economic, social and environmental) throughout our agri-food systems.

Dear colleagues,

The CFS does not implement the policy products its produces but relies on governments, UN agencies, local actors, CSOs, businesses, academia and research institutions and other partners to use the products in the design and formulation of policies, programmes and investments especially at the national level. Their action in the ground is what brings transformative change.

The coalition for transforming food systems though agroecology is an excellent example of partners coming together to utilize CFS products to create impact. The Transformative Partnership Platform on Agroecological Transitions, also launched in June 2021 at CFS 48 will help incubate the coalition.

I see how from apex multilateral system (where CFS stands), to national, sub-national and local governments, to landscapes and territories, a global movement is emerging in support of a transition that is based on agroecological and other innovative approaches, that build on empowering smallscale producers, family farmers and women, and promotes transformative governance at the landscapes and territorial levels.

I have committed, as the Chairperson of the CFS, to make the Committee even more connected to what happens in these level, and to better serve as the global platform where all initiatives and country efforts, including the Coalition, and the Global Lanscapes Forumwill, find space to learn, share and be accountable.

Once again, thank you the opportunity to share my thoughts and those of CFS on this important topic.

 More information on the event is available here.