Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

Climate change directly affects food and nutrition security of millions of people, undermining current efforts to address undernutrition. It impacts people’s livelihoods and lifestyles through different pathways, hitting the poorest the hardest. The objective of this consultation is to gain a better understanding of the impact of climate change and to identify possible measures to protect and/or improve nutrition. 

FAO and UNEP are jointly developing a programme on sustainable food systems under the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (10YFP). As part of this process, a public consultation is being organized in order to take stock of relevant information on initiatives, collect comments of a draft concpt note and collect expressions of interest of entities to participate in the Programme.

It is clear that the development of irrigated agriculture is a key factor for food security and nutrtion in West Africa and in the Sahel. In this context, mobilisation of groundwater offers great opportunities. But how can we better understand, exploit and manage water resources in the region? And how can we coordinate and unify different approaches to development of irrigation?

The High Level Panel of Experts for Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE) seeks input on the V0 draft of its report on Biofuels and Food Security. The report aims at providing a balanced science-based assessments of the opportunities and challenges that Biofuels may represent for food security so that they can be produced where it is socially, economically and environmentally feasible.

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 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.