Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

Re: Food security and nutrition: building a global narrative towards 2030 - HLPE consultation on the V0 draft of the Report

Lynda Hayden

Australian Embassy

Australian comments on the V0 draft of the Report "Food security and nutrition: building a global narrative towards 2030"

  • Australia appreciates the efforts of the CFS HLPE to develop a consolidated global narrative on food security and nutrition towards 2030 and the efforts in compiling the vast array of perspectives of both governments and the private sector on this topic. Australia has some broad overarching comments to make on version zero of this document and looks forward to reviewing future iterations.
  • Australia supports the reference to the need for context-specific approaches to addressing various food systems challenges (chapter 2.2, point iv).
  • We question the value of altering the broadly accepted and comprehensive definition of food security and its four dimensions, particularly when the proposed additional elements of ‘agency’ and ‘sustainability’ could arguably be considered via the application of a holistic food systems perspective (chapter 2.1).
    • Limited evidence has been provided for the value of adding an ‘agency’ dimension to the definition of food security, and we believe this has been well covered off under the dimension of ‘access’ to food. However, if ‘agency’ were to be incorporated in the definition, we suggest that an increased focus on empowering consumers to make informed food choices would be useful.
  • Regarding the reference to agrochemicals in chapter 3.3, p 20, we suggest that this be amended to reflect support for the considered and appropriate and well-regulated use of pesticides and chemical fertilisers.
  • Throughout the document there are a number of references to agro-ecological farming practices, while there are few references to other approaches to sustainable agriculture, such as climate smart agriculture. This narrative should highlight the diversity of approaches that may be employed to improve agricultural sustainability in different contexts, and always be clear that agroecology is just one of these.
  • Finally, we suggest that it would be useful to expand on the analysis of factors behind the lack of implementation of various international obligations and guidelines related to food systems and nutrition (chapter 2.3) especially as we move into preparations for the Food Security Summit in 2021.