We are at serious risk of facing a food access crisis now, and a food availability crisis for the next season: FAO Director-General
Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, has outlined five urgent steps to halt the global food crisis and transform agrifood systems, as he addressed the G7 Ministerial Conference “Uniting for Global Food Security.”
First, it is vital to invest in countries most severely affected by the increase in food prices. In addition to food aid, supporting local production of nutritious foods is also key. Currently only eight percent of all food security funding in emergencies and crisis aids goes to assist agricultural production.
Second, Qu called for greater support for the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) multi-partner initiative for improving food security and nutrition analysis and decision-making to expand the country coverage.
Third, countries need to foster policies that increase productivity, efficiency, resilience, and inclusivity of agrifood systems. That will require significant financial investment, estimated at eight percent of the size of the agrifood market.
Fourth, reducing food loss and waste can improve food security and nutrition. Foods currently lost and wasted could feed around 1.26 billion people per year.
Fifth, ensuring better and more efficient use of available fertilizers is of paramount importance. It is crucial that all key partners work in a coherent way to get necessary fertilizers available to farmers in time.
image credit- shutterstock