Food for Earth 24-Hour Global Marathon for Sustainability
by Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
22/04/2021
Food for Earth
24-Hour Global Marathon for Sustainability
Speech by Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
22 April 2021
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. I am pleased to be with you today, at the Chinese Session of the 24-hour Global Marathon for Sustainability, being held on the 51st anniversary of Earth Day.
2. Sustainability is a fundamental concept and a cross-cutting theme throughout FAO’s activities, interventions and initiatives.
3. Because feeding the world requires a more productive agricultural sector that should be and must be sustainable.
4. But keeping the agricultural and rural development sustainable is far more than an academic exercise.
5. It requires a viable design with practical and concrete measures.
6. In that context, let me share four crucial elements with you:
- First, adequate enabling policies for production, process, trade, and investment.
- Second, more investment in rural areas. Like improving the infrastructure of broadband, accessibility to roads, and cold chain systems.
- Third, a strong push for innovation and science, including social, institutional, financial and technological innovations, to produce new varieties based on biotechnology, and on traditional breeding; and to use other innovative products and bio-products: like bio-fertilizer and non-polluting chemicals.
- Fourth: partnerships and new business models to maintain trade flow and the sustainable supply of food across regions, and strengthen related cooperation.
7. Let me also stress that real sustainability is not a modern concept, but rather enshrined in the practices and heritage of our ancestors.
8. For thousands of years, farmers have worked in harmony with nature and showed mother earth respect and reverence.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
9. We are at a critical moment in time.
10. The number of hungry people in the world has increased consistently during the last six years: an increase of 10 million in 2019, and nearly 60 million in the 5 years before that.
11. It is estimated that by the end of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic added another 132 million to the number of hungry people in the world.
12. Child stunting remains unacceptably high, and overweight and obesity continue to increase in rich and poor countries alike, especially in cities.
13. More than 3 billion people in the world cannot afford even the cheapest healthy diet.
14. Current consumption patterns and existing agri-food systems are contributing to disturbingly high rates of food loss and waste, air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, the loss of biodiversity, and constitute a growing source of inequality.
15. This is generating severe human, economic and environmental costs.
16. We urgently need to do things differently and act holistically to transform our agri-food systems.
17. Because soon, the table will need to be set for 10 billion people!
18. So, we have to create new solutions and find smarter ways to produce more with less input, while keeping in mind that there are no healthy foods without a healthy environment.
19. That is why FAO’s new Strategic Framework focuses on the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.
20. These ‘Four Betters’ represent a guiding principle and an innovative business model for how FAO intends to contribute to SDG 1 (No poverty), SDG 2 (Zero hunger), and SDG 10 (Reduced inequalities), as well as to supporting the achievement of the broader SDG agenda.
21. The ‘Four Betters’ also reflect the interconnected economic, social and environmental dimensions of agri-food systems.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
22. The State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture clearly demonstrated that biodiversity is the essence of sustainable agri-food systems.
23. Biodiversity is vital to improving agricultural and food production while maintaining our planet’s resources and ecosystems.
24. It is essential for food security and food diversity; it enhances the resilience of rural communities, underpins healthy and nutritious diets and improves rural livelihoods.
25. A key challenge is to meet the growing demand for food, feed and fuel, while conserving biodiversity and reducing the pressure on natural resources and ecosystems.
26. Here again, developing policies and legal frameworks, strengthening institutions and building human capacity is essential.
27. At FAO, we are driving this through our FAO Strategy on Mainstreaming Biodiversity across Agricultural Sectors and in our role as Biodiversity Mainstreaming Platform.
28. We recognize the importance of promoting the use of biodiversity-friendly management practices in crop and livestock production, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture.
29. This includes traditional management practices in-situ associated with local and indigenous knowledge.
30. Another topic of global importance is food loss and waste, which has an important impact on food security and sustainability.
31. Let me be clear: We cannot afford food loss and waste in these globally challenging times!
32. The COVID-19 pandemic is also a wake-up call to rethink the way in which we produce, handle and consume our food!
33. Reducing food losses and waste provides a powerful means to strengthen our agri-food systems and supporting sustainability.
34. Innovative business models to stop food loss and waste need to be shaped, with the participation of the private sector and with new approaches to finance them.
35. FAO is supporting its Members to move from advocacy to effective action and accountability:
- We support the formulation of policies and laws to reduce food loss and waste.
- We collaborate with a wide range of partners to improve practices and apply innovations, and;
- We support efforts to transform consumers’ attitudes, behavior, consumption preferences, and habits – as they are key to the solution.
36. Addressing food waste is also a moral issue, as appreciating food reflects a level of civility, of culture and responsibility.
37. I invite you to visit the FAO website for relevant data and information, to explore the Technical Platform on the Measurement and Reduction of Food Loss and Waste and to join its digital community of practice.
38. We should all be food savers: for the people and for the planet!
Ladies and Gentlemen,
39. According to the World Bank international poverty line, China has contributed to over 70 % of the world poverty reduction, meeting the poverty eradication target set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule.
40. I congratulate the Chinese government and people on fulfilling this arduous task of eradicating extreme poverty by the end of 2020.
41. With its rich biodiversity, its ten thousand years of agricultural history and the concrete steps taken at all levels of governance and society to confront food waste, China is an example to follow.
42. China has made great progress in developing its food and agriculture sectors and has a wealth of experience and knowledge to share with the world.
43. I am proud to say that the FAO-China South-South Cooperation Programme is a pillar of this global exchange, and we thank China for its continuous generous support.
44. The inclusion of developing a green economy as one of the key strategic priorities during the 14th Five Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development (2021-2025) period is of great importance.
45. I believe that sustainable agricultural development and addressing food waste will surely become key contributors in this endeavor.
46. As China’s trusted partner, FAO will continue to provide policy advice and technical assistance on a wide range of topics, including food safety, sustainable management of agricultural resources as well as the surveillance and control of transboundary animal and plant diseases.
Dear Colleagues,
47. Selecting “biodiversity and food waste” as the main thematic area for the Chinese Session of this Marathon was both timely and relevant.
48. I look forward to listening to the speakers from the Chinese academia, as they share their perspectives and experiences on biodiversity, food waste and agri-food systems transformation.
49. I wish the 24-hour Global Marathon on Sustainability great success!
50. Thank You.