Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

The impact of biofuel production on food security remains a controversial issue. A number of initiatives have been established to develop voluntary sustainability standards for the certification of biofuels. Among them, the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) has developed a voluntary, third-party certification system for biofuel sustainability which encompasses environmental, social and economic principles and criteria, including on food security.

Protracted crises, as described by the latest State of Food Insecurity - SOFI report, affect 22 countries worldwide and pose an ongoing and fundamental threat to both lives and livelihoods, from which recovery becomes progressively more difficult over time. While many solutions are well known or have been at least partially adopted, there are evident barriers to effective programming that are worth investigating.

 

Responses to food insecurity and malnutrition in emergencies have expanded dramatically in the past 5-10 years and improved needs assessment has increased willingness of donors to fund new alternatives to general food distribution and targeted feeding programs. However, the analytical process required to make intelligent choices among these new options has not always kept up. How can this process be improved?

Confusion and lack of consensus still exist over conceptualising and dealing with the problems of Food Security. Many stakeholders may lack a fundamental understanding of the complex interplay and multi-dimensionality of factors due to food security’s complex nature and its cross-sectoral roots. This complexity is both the cause of much misunderstanding and the barrier to any real consensual solution. How can we improve this situation and what role do Food Security frameworks play?

The impacts of bioenergy on Food Security have been highly debated. FAO’s Bioenergy and Food  Security Criteria and Indicators (BEFSCI) project is currently developing a set of criteria, indicators, good practices and policy options on sustainable bioenergy production that safeguards and, if possible, fosters food security. We welcome comments and inputs on a set of “core” indicators that governments could use (on a voluntary basis) to monitor the impacts of modern bioenergy production on the four dimensions of food security.

The communities of Sahelian West Africa (Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali) face, year after year, hardships due to drought despite all the aid awarded by international organizations. Lack of understanding of the communities' societies and a fragmented approach seem to be among the causes. What can we do to increase the impact of assistance programmes and reduce the vulnerability of these households?

FAO and WFP are in the process of each developing a Corporate Strategy on Information Systems for Food and Nutrition Security and will also work together on a Joint Strategy. These activities are based on the recommendations of the “Joint Thematic Evaluation of FAO and WFP Support to Information Systems for Food Security (ISFS)” and FAO and WFP management responses.

For decades the international disability movement has been saying that disability is a cause of poverty, that poverty often leads to disability and that disabled people are among the poorest of the poor in any country. Little effort is put in to making development programmes relevant to all stakeholders, including those with disabilities.

Broadcast media play a big role in disseminating information about innovations in agricultural technologies and practices while seeking to engage farmers and stakeholders in interactive discussions. John Cheburet, Kenyan journalist-producer of 'The Organic Farmer' and award winner of an Africa-wide scriptwriting competition on smallholder farmer innovation invites Forum members to discuss the nature of the relationship between broadcast media (in particular radio), extension workers and farmers.  

How diverse are rural livelihoods and incomes? Are different types of rural households differently equipped for facing food and financial crises? FAO's RIGA team invites you to share country specific case studies as well as general inputs.