Keynote Speaker
Maximo Torero, FAO
Talk title: Taking stock of the global food security situation
Abstract
Key messages of the presentation:
- We are not on track towards the SDG targets of eradicating hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms. COVID-19 poses an additional threat in our attempt to change course.
- There are four key drivers behind the most recent rise in hunger, food security, and multiple forms of malnutrition:
- Conflict and violence in some parts of the world
- Climate variability and exposure to climatic extremes.
- Economic slowdowns and downturns in countries.
- High cost and lack of affordability to access healthy diets.
- But underlying all these drivers is inequality –in terms of income, productive assets and basic services (e.g. health, education), which is closely associated with access to food and hunger.
- The COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating inequality, as people’s livelihoods and savings are stripped away.
- We will not end hunger and malnutrition in all its forms, unless we transform our food systems and this transformation addresses the drivers of hunger and malnutrition in all its forms.
- A food systems approach is necessary due to the complexity and the interrelationships of drivers and solutions.
- Change at a broader scale with the functioning of food systems is necessary.
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