UNFSS+2 OPENING CEREMONY Statement

UNFSS+2

OPENING CEREMONY

Statement

By

Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General

Monday, 24 July 2023 (14.30-16.30)

 

UN Secretary-General António Guterres,

Her Excellency Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy,

Excellences,

Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Colleagues,

 

I am especially honored to welcome you to FAO headquarters in Rome for this milestone event.

 

This is an important moment to assess progress in agrifood systems transformation on the way to achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

The UN Food System Summit process has made it clear to all of us that our agrifood systems hold huge power and potential in contributing to the achievement of the SDGs.

 

While there are still many challenges, we have made progress in identifying the solutions that agrifood systems can provide for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life – to ensure that no one is left behind.

 

These solutions depend on transforming global agrifood systems to be more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable.

 

In the face of increasing uncertainties and multiple crises, we need to urgently undertake this transformation to fulfil the high expectations we have from our agrifood systems:

• they need to meet the increased demand for food, feed, fiber and biofuel, while reducing pressure on natural resources.
• they must reduce greenhouse gas emissions and safeguard biodiversity;
• they have to increase resilience to the climate crisis, conflicts and other disruptions to supply chains;
• they must ensure decent employment, and
• ensure access to safe and nutritious food and healthy diets for all.

 

With its technical, professional expertise, and together with partners as part of an inter-related system, FAO works to support its Members to help make their agrifood systems fit for purpose in delivering innovative solutions.

 

To accelerate progress we need to leverage cross-cutting accelerators, and FAO is focusing on four key areas:

 

First: science and innovation. Enhanced linkages across agrifood systems are needed for impact at scale, including innovations in traditional and indigenous knowledge.

 

We need to harness the potential of technologies to improve food productivity with less resources.

 

We need to scale up climate resilience, such as by introducing drought and heat tolerance into popular high-yielding staple food varieties.

 

We need to increase efficiencies, including through technology and innovation for reducing food loss and waste - which could feed an additional 1.26 billion people each year, and with positive impacts on the environment and green economy.

 

Second: improved data capabilities. FAO is currently working with 64 countries that have engaged in FAO’s Hand-in-Hand initiative using the Geospatial Data Platform, which was first proposed as an evidence-based, country-led and country-owned initiative to consolidate strengths from diverse sources and help the most vulnerable countries and populations.

 

FAO’s “1000 Digital Villages” Initiative is a country-led, user-centred initiative that supports the dissemination and enhanced use of digital tools in agrifood systems and rural areas, enabling farmers to use digital technologies and a digital solutions platform to serve value chain development in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

 

Furthermore, e-Agriculture for improved productivity through ICT application and relevant digital solutions, promotes Digital Farmer Services to enhance farmers' accessibility to various digital social, economic and financial services, and to support rural transformation through delivery of public services.

 

Third: finance. We need an increase in targeted and coordinated public and private finance.

 

Transforming agrifood systems will cost USD 4 trillion from now to 2030 in Low and Middle Income countries – which is USD 680 billion per year. This is a big requirement!

 

Empowerment of women and marginalized groups are essential to ensure access to food, gender equality and social protection for all.

 

We estimate that closing the gender gap in farm productivity, and the wage gap in agrifood systems alone would increase global GDP by USD 1 trillion.

 

Thereby reducing global food insecurity by at least two percentage points, and reducing the number of food-insecure people by 45 million.

 

And Fourth: governance. The establishment of inclusive agrifood systems governance mechanisms at the highest level enables holistic national food policies and strategies.

 

Multi-stakeholder partnerships and platforms at national, regional and city levels are key to breaking down silos.

 

Due to rapid urbanization - with 70 percent of the world population projected to live in cities by 2050 - we need improved coordination bringing together decision-makers across the rural–urban divide, and between the city and national level.

 

Unlocking the full potential of agrifood systems can only happen if we focus on these accelerators, to help minimize trade-offs and maximize synergies.

 

Agrifood systems are part of a global interconnected big system.

 

Four years ago, I proposed to establish a World Food Forum. Considering that 16 October - World Food Day - commemorates the establishment of FAO joining the UN family, a week-long World Food Forum event has been established to ensure that issues related to food security and agrifood systems transformation remain high on the international development agenda since 2021.

 

The World Food Forum was held innovatively around three major pillars of global agrifood systems transformation: FAO Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum; FAO Science and Innovation Forum; and Global Youth Forum, including Indigenous Peoples. We should use the World Food Forum as a mean to accelerate progress towards the achievement of the SDGs.

 

Let us continue to work together in harmony as close partners, for people, planet, and prosperity for a better world.

 

Thank you.