72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly 2nd Committee – Item 25, Agriculture, food security and nutrition

Madam Chair,

 

I am honoured to deliver this statement on behalf of the Rome-based agencies, FAO, IFAD and WFP.

 

This year, the discussion on agriculture, food security and nutrition in the Second Committee falls on World Food Day.

 

Madam Chair,

 

While today is World Food Day, there is little cause for celebration. Two years after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, estimates show that hunger is on the rise again, and that efforts on nutrition are also lagging behind.

 

The State of Food Security and Nutrition, launched in September, estimates that the number of chronically undernourished people increased from 777 million in 2015 to 815 million in 2016.

 

The report indicates that the food security and nutrition situation has worsened in particular in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, South Eastern Asia and Western Asia.

 

This year’s State of Food Security and Nutrition is the first to report on the SDG targets 2.1 and 2.2 (hunger and malnutrition). Given the scope of the indicators covered, the report that in the past was a joint effort by FAO, IFAD and WFP, now includes UNICEF and WHO as partners.

 

According to the report, child stunting is falling but some 155 million children are still affected. Wasting also continues to affect the lives of 52 million children under five.

 

In the opposite end of the spectrum of malnutrition, poor diets are contributing to growing childhood overweight and obesity – including in developing countries, leading to an increase in health costs, non-communicable diseases and related deaths.

 

It is critical to address the factors that are behind the increase in hunger and malnutrition. If we fail to revert the trend, we will leave millions of people behind.

 

Madam Chair,

 

This year, the State of Food Security and Nutrition examines the theme of “building resilience for peace and food security.”

 

Conflict is identified as a leading factor for the increase in hunger, often combined with droughts or floods partially linked to the El Niño phenomenon. Conflict is a common factor in ten of the 13 major food crises in the world today and most hungry people – 489 million – live in countries affected by conflict. In fact, while most countries have achieved significant 25-year gains in reducing hunger and undernutrition, progress in most of countries affected by conflict has stagnated or deteriorated.

 

I also would like to highlight that the majority of the population in conflict-affected countries live in rural areas and depend heavily on agriculture. In 2015, agriculture’s share of the GDP was of 23% in countries affected by conflict and 35% in countries in protracted crisis.

 

While conflict affects hunger, hunger can also trigger violence and instability, particularly in contexts with persistent inequalities and fragile institutions. This can happen through factors such as sudden spikes in food prices and competition for natural resources.

 

On the other hand, food security and nutrition can play an important role in sustaining peace. This calls for conflict-sensitive and timely interventions and for building and strengthening resilience of rural populations. It also requires a longer-term approach even in humanitarian responses. Interventions should support rural livelihoods, facilitate community based approaches that can build social cohesion, and build capacity of institutions and local actor.

 

Madam Chair,

 

The observance of World Food Day is taking place today around the globe. The theme of this year’s celebration is: “Change the future of migration. Invest in food security and rural development”.

 

I would like to thank those that joined us for the event earlier today in New York.

 

At the celebration hosted by FAO in Rome, Pope Francis said that “it is clear that wars and climate change are a cause of hunger, so let’s not present it as if hunger is an incurable disease.” The Pope also called for governments around the world to collaborate to make migration a safer and voluntary choice.

 

Migration can be a driver for sustainable development. Its positive contribution should be recognized, supported and promoted.

 

At the same time, we are seeing how food insecurity, degradation of natural resources, political instability, conflict, and economic stagnation of rural areas are forcing many to leave their homes. But migration should be a choice and not a last resort.

 

Evidence shows that investing in inclusive, sustainable and resilient agriculture and rural development can increase the incomes of poor family farmers and landless workers and is particularly effective in addressing root causes of hunger, rural poverty, forced migration and conflict and in sustaining peace.

 

Implementing effective and inclusive economic and social policies can make a significant contribution. Examples of such policies include:

• Promoting the responsible governance of tenure and improved access to land and water;
• Supporting financial inclusion, financial literacy and management skills;
• Developing capacity that enhances employability and entrepreneurial capacity of rural people;
• Increasing public financing of agricultural research focused on the problems of poor family farmers;
• Investing in rural infrastructure;
• Investing in social safety nets focused on enhancing production and resilience;
• Empowering women, who are the backbone of farming systems in the developing world;
• Improving access to markets; and
• Strengthening farmer organizations

 

By investing in agriculture and rural development we do more than produce food. We produce hope and create conditions for a better future of people everywhere, and anywhere they choose to be.

 

Thank you for your attention.