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Distinguished Representatives,

Dear colleagues and friends,

I thank you all for joining us, both here in Rome at the Headquarters of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) - our gracious hosts today, as well as those joining virtually.

I am pleased to warmly welcome you to this public event on Reducing Inequalities for Food Security and Nutrition convened by the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS) that I have the privilege of Chairing.

Exactly a week ago today, the human population hit the 8^th billion mark. This milestone comes at a time of multiple and overlapping global challenges. These...