The world is more connected than ever: economies, travel, media. Unfortunately, this also holds true for the world’s challenges. Plastic and pollution in our ocean harm the global fish supply. Water scarcity, rising sea levels, air pollution, deforestation … all of these affect the entire world. However, some people and countries feel these impacts more acutely than the rest. Island nations, for example, are often on the frontline.
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are a group of countries that share similar sustainable development challenges, including susceptibility to natural disasters, vulnerability to external shocks and excessive dependence on international trade. Many SIDS are remote and have a relatively narrow resource base to fuel their economies and development. Fisheries, tourism and agriculture contribute significantly to national Gross Domestic Products (GDP); yet, these sectors are particularly vulnerable to the changing climate, among other global challenges. Learning how to overcome challenges like food insecurity, malnutrition and sustainable use of natural resources in SIDS can help us learn how to overcome them around the world.
Here are five ways that FAO is working with SIDS to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 – Zero Hunger:
1. Bolstering local food production
Improving the production of nutritious, local food is very important in SIDS, as imports are by far the largest source of food in these countries. In at least seven states in the Caribbean, more than 80 percent of food comes from imports. In the Bahamas, a rise in the cost of imported fish and a stronger focus on healthy diets have increased the demand for domestic sources of fish. FAO is assisting the Government of the Bahamas with technical support to develop the aquaculture sector to meet this demand. In addition, students from the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute are constructing a mobile unit to promote ecologically viable and sustainable aquaculture and aquaponics farms, which will increase the volume of locally produced fish and fish products.
2. Ensuring access to affordable, diverse and nutritious food
SIDS are often sources of nutritious fruits, vegetables, pulses, seeds and nuts. Yet, diets in the SIDS are nutritionally poor, as much of the imported food that is affordable and available is also calorie-dense, high in fat and in sweeteners. These dietary habits have been contributing to the increased prevalence of obesity and chronic, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes and heart disease, in these island states. Policy measures can help to improve the supply and competitiveness of locally produced nutritious foods in order to make these foods more available, affordable and safe for all consumers, particularly the poorest. In Cuba, FAO has helped the government introduce more efficient technologies for food processing and provide knowledge on international standards of food safety to the country.