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FAO COUNCIL– 177th SESSION 

AGENDA ITEM 5 

Global food security challenges and drivers 

Thank you, Chairperson, 

1. Panama has the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. 

2. The 2024 edition of The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) revealed persistently high levels of chronic hunger, with the world still off track to achieving Zero Hunger. 

3. We recognize the multiple challenges the world is currently facing, including in the food security sector, with a significant increase in the number of people experiencing severe food insecurity and a real risk of multiple famines being declared in the near future. We also acknowledge that this situation has been exacerbated, among other factors, by the worst pandemic humanity has faced in the past century, the ongoing climate crisis, growing inequalities, and conflicts, including protracted ones. 

4. Not only do crises and shocks reinforce one another, but their effects are also more severe due to persistent structural vulnerabilities, such as limited access to education, healthcare, and other basic services, poor rural infrastructure, and economic and gender inequalities. These conditions leave individuals, communities, nations, and entire agrifood systems without social safety nets, resilience to withstand crises, and coping capacities. Combined, shocks, crises, and structural vulnerabilities increasingly put food security and nutrition at risk. 

5. For this reason, the G77 and China once again call on FAO Members to take concrete steps to avoid hindering efforts to meet the needs of the many. We also stress the need for Members to take this into account when advancing their national or even regional interest-driven agendas in UN multilateral fora. 

6. In this regard we strongly condemn the use of starvation of the civilian population as a method of warfare, and urged the states to refrain from promulgating and applying any measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations that impede the full achievement of economic and social development, particularly in developing countries. 

Chairperson,  

7. As we should all be aware, eradicating hunger is of paramount importance for achieving sustainable development. Advances in agricultural production make hunger entirely preventable, provided that we work together to strengthen capacities, develop and transfer technology, and provide financial assistance to developing countries. 

8. We recognize the activities that FAO carries out for the benefit of developing countries and request that it continue providing technical assistance within its mandate. 

9. With these remarks, the Group of 77 and China reaffirms its commitment to the principles of solidarity and multilateral cooperation in achieving food security and sustainable development.