Switzerland
Madam Chair,
First of all, my delegation would like to congratulate you for the excellent work you are doing
for this session of the CSD.
? The right to food an underlined principle for all the issues considered during this session
of the CSD. Switzerland supports the national implementation of the Right to
Food as the best base for effective food security policies and strategies.
? Moreover, I have several points on issues which should have more clarity in the final
text.
? More specifically about agriculture, Switzerland reiterates that the International Assessment
of Agricultural Sciences and Technology for Development (IAASTD) is an
important contribution for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. More should
be said in our final resolution about this initiative and its recommendations.
? A vital objective to ensure food security is the promotion of agricultural production methods
that are productive but also protect or even restore resources. Agriculture offers
potential solutions through its ecosystem services. Public-private partnerships can
encourage remuneration of the environmental services provided by farmers.
? More emphasis must be put on recognising criteria of sustainability and sustainable
practices (environmental, social) through the rules of international trade. It is therefore
crucial to give more importance to the recognition of sustainability standards and
harmonized certification schemes in international trade rules.
? Regarding land, Switzerland is of the opinion that it is important to recognise the economic
value of land and make better use of economic instruments. This will accelerate
the transfer towards more sustainable forms of land use and will help to prevent
further soil degradation. In this context, payments for ecosystem services are effective
instruments which should be promoted and applied more widely. This has to be
reflected in the text.
? We need to be aware that there are limits to increasing the productivity of your soils.
We will therefore not be able to fully compensate reduced land availability with increased
productivity
? About the combat against desertification, Switzerland hopes that this session of the
CSD may release a clear message towards the importance of the Strategic Plan
2008-2018 for the implementation of UNCCD. The final text should be more precise
on this aspect and also recognize the potential of UNCCD implementation to alleviate
poverty, restore biodiversity and adapt to climate change.
? We expect this CSD session will set recommendations to facilitate the participation of
African farmers? organizations in the international debates and decision making processes.
? Finally, no achievement will be possible in any of the considered area without seriously
taking into account gender equality as a determinant for progress. Switzerland
indeed considers gender equality as an extremely powerful factor of progress in the
diverse aspects of food security.
First of all, my delegation would like to congratulate you for the excellent work you are doing
for this session of the CSD.
? The right to food an underlined principle for all the issues considered during this session
of the CSD. Switzerland supports the national implementation of the Right to
Food as the best base for effective food security policies and strategies.
? Moreover, I have several points on issues which should have more clarity in the final
text.
? More specifically about agriculture, Switzerland reiterates that the International Assessment
of Agricultural Sciences and Technology for Development (IAASTD) is an
important contribution for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. More should
be said in our final resolution about this initiative and its recommendations.
? A vital objective to ensure food security is the promotion of agricultural production methods
that are productive but also protect or even restore resources. Agriculture offers
potential solutions through its ecosystem services. Public-private partnerships can
encourage remuneration of the environmental services provided by farmers.
? More emphasis must be put on recognising criteria of sustainability and sustainable
practices (environmental, social) through the rules of international trade. It is therefore
crucial to give more importance to the recognition of sustainability standards and
harmonized certification schemes in international trade rules.
? Regarding land, Switzerland is of the opinion that it is important to recognise the economic
value of land and make better use of economic instruments. This will accelerate
the transfer towards more sustainable forms of land use and will help to prevent
further soil degradation. In this context, payments for ecosystem services are effective
instruments which should be promoted and applied more widely. This has to be
reflected in the text.
? We need to be aware that there are limits to increasing the productivity of your soils.
We will therefore not be able to fully compensate reduced land availability with increased
productivity
? About the combat against desertification, Switzerland hopes that this session of the
CSD may release a clear message towards the importance of the Strategic Plan
2008-2018 for the implementation of UNCCD. The final text should be more precise
on this aspect and also recognize the potential of UNCCD implementation to alleviate
poverty, restore biodiversity and adapt to climate change.
? We expect this CSD session will set recommendations to facilitate the participation of
African farmers? organizations in the international debates and decision making processes.
? Finally, no achievement will be possible in any of the considered area without seriously
taking into account gender equality as a determinant for progress. Switzerland
indeed considers gender equality as an extremely powerful factor of progress in the
diverse aspects of food security.
Stakeholders