Major Group: Local Authorities, NGOs, Indigenous Peoples, Women and Farmers
Statement Focus Area 2 "Food Security and Nutrition"
Thank you chair. I am speaking on behalf of Major Groups: Local Authorities, NGOs, Indigenous
Peoples, Women, Farmers, as well as the Food and Agriculture Cluster.
With regard to Focus Area 2 “Food Security and Nutrition”, I would like to make the following
comments:
First
We commend and are encouraged that ensuring food and nutrition security for all and
establishing sustainable agriculture and food systems is prominently placed in the document.
Second
We remain convinced that a strong call for a transformation to sustainable, diverse and
resilient agriculture and food systems must be made. We are pleased that many elements that
characterize sustainable agriculture and food systems are outlined in the document. In addition,
other characteristics include high resource use efficiency, minimized emissions and use of
non-renewable inputs, strengthened ecosystems, farm animal welfare, strengthened urban-
rural linkages, adaptation and mitigating to effects of climate change, and safeguarded rights
of agriculture and food systems workers. We must also acknowledge food sovereignty as a key
demand of the poor.
Third
We are concerned that smallholder farmers as the critical “agents of change,” have not been
given the necessary prominence in the document. Empowering smallholder farmers and other
rural communities, in particular women and disadvantaged groups, is essential, including
through access to productive resources, such as credit and other financial services, land tenure,
and agricultural extension services, as well as through better access to education, information
and markets, including fair prices for their products. In this respect it is also necessary to
address the structural causes of what we see as the feminization of poverty, especially in the
countryside and end all forms of violence against women.
Fourth
We note with concern that the right to adequate food is not explicitly mentioned. Given its
overarching and transformative role in achieving food security for all, we request to include the
Right to Food in this priority area.
Fifth
Agriculture is equated with crop production and, at best, considers livestock production as
a means to augment farming income. With livestock taking up three quarters of all available
agricultural land and consuming well over one third of all crops produced, the livestock sector
must be directly addressed in this focus area.
Sixth
The correction of inherent market failures must include efforts to eliminate dumping, support
the establishment of food reserves to mitigate price and supply volatility, and preventing
landgrabbing and excessive speculation on commodity markets through the establishment of
commodity-specific position limits and increased transparency.
Seventh and Finally
We note that concrete measures to support countries in achieving the food and agriculture
related goals and targets are missing. In this regard, we wish to emphasize the role of the
Committee on World Food Security, not only as the foremost inclusive intergovernmental body
on food security and nutrition, but also with the ability to support regular global, regional, and
national multi-stakeholder assessments on sustainable agriculture and food systems.
Thank you.
Thank you chair. I am speaking on behalf of Major Groups: Local Authorities, NGOs, Indigenous
Peoples, Women, Farmers, as well as the Food and Agriculture Cluster.
With regard to Focus Area 2 “Food Security and Nutrition”, I would like to make the following
comments:
First
We commend and are encouraged that ensuring food and nutrition security for all and
establishing sustainable agriculture and food systems is prominently placed in the document.
Second
We remain convinced that a strong call for a transformation to sustainable, diverse and
resilient agriculture and food systems must be made. We are pleased that many elements that
characterize sustainable agriculture and food systems are outlined in the document. In addition,
other characteristics include high resource use efficiency, minimized emissions and use of
non-renewable inputs, strengthened ecosystems, farm animal welfare, strengthened urban-
rural linkages, adaptation and mitigating to effects of climate change, and safeguarded rights
of agriculture and food systems workers. We must also acknowledge food sovereignty as a key
demand of the poor.
Third
We are concerned that smallholder farmers as the critical “agents of change,” have not been
given the necessary prominence in the document. Empowering smallholder farmers and other
rural communities, in particular women and disadvantaged groups, is essential, including
through access to productive resources, such as credit and other financial services, land tenure,
and agricultural extension services, as well as through better access to education, information
and markets, including fair prices for their products. In this respect it is also necessary to
address the structural causes of what we see as the feminization of poverty, especially in the
countryside and end all forms of violence against women.
Fourth
We note with concern that the right to adequate food is not explicitly mentioned. Given its
overarching and transformative role in achieving food security for all, we request to include the
Right to Food in this priority area.
Fifth
Agriculture is equated with crop production and, at best, considers livestock production as
a means to augment farming income. With livestock taking up three quarters of all available
agricultural land and consuming well over one third of all crops produced, the livestock sector
must be directly addressed in this focus area.
Sixth
The correction of inherent market failures must include efforts to eliminate dumping, support
the establishment of food reserves to mitigate price and supply volatility, and preventing
landgrabbing and excessive speculation on commodity markets through the establishment of
commodity-specific position limits and increased transparency.
Seventh and Finally
We note that concrete measures to support countries in achieving the food and agriculture
related goals and targets are missing. In this regard, we wish to emphasize the role of the
Committee on World Food Security, not only as the foremost inclusive intergovernmental body
on food security and nutrition, but also with the ability to support regular global, regional, and
national multi-stakeholder assessments on sustainable agriculture and food systems.
Thank you.