FAO says global threats to agrifood systems need complex approach

Technological and social innovation can reduce market failures and improve market functioning

The challenges undermining global food security call for a complex approach embracing investment, policy reforms and better use of resources, QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) told a key meeting of the G20 on 10th July.

“Recent global events, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the climate crisis, multiple conflicts around the world and the war in Ukraine, have all heavily affected agrifood systems in multiple ways,” Qu told the G20 Sherpa meeting of senior government representatives.

Qu cited the recently launched 2022 edition of the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) Report, which confirms that world hunger has increased again in 2021, reflecting growing inequalities across and within countries. It says 828 million people suffered from hunger in 2021, an increase of 46 million from 2020, and 150 million from 2019 before the pandemic.

Qu said the international community needed to implement a package of measures such as invest in countries most in need that are most affected by the increase in food prices; put policies in place that both increase productivity and protect natural resources, and that are specific to regional needs; and ensure better and more efficient use of available outputs and inputs to produce more with less.