The Italian government-proposed initiative aims to tackle the long-term impacts of the pandemic on food and agriculture, engaging more countries to support the efforts
The COVID-19 Food Coalition, launched by the government of Italy and led by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is gaining momentum, as more countries are joining the initiative in an effort to tackle medium and long-term adverse impacts of the current pandemic on food systems and agriculture.
Presented in June, the coalition is a multi-stakeholder, multi-sectoral mechanism that aims to mobilize political, financial and technical assistance in support of countries affected by the current crisis. It will offer a platform to develop a dialogue among diverse stakeholders including private sector, academia, farmer organizations, civil society, governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and others to provide country-tailored responses to the COVID-19 impacts on food systems.
Moreover, the coalition will also serve as a forum for exchange of ideas and knowledge between various countries to work out solutions for members facing similar challenges when tackling the pandemic’s implications on food systems and food supply.
More than 35 nations from all over the world have joined or offered support to the Coalition so far.
To minimise the impacts of the current emergency in the long run, the Coalition will support FAO efforts to promote resilient and sustainable food production systems, improve nutrition, increase agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, especially women, youth, indigenous peoples and family farmers, while addressing disruptions caused by COVID-19.