July 1, 2024

 

FAO chief calls for innovation and focus on production and smallholders to tap benefits of agrifood trade

Global hunger is on a "dangerous" upward trend, and achieving a sustainable and food-secure world requires not only economic policy measures but also strong political and social commitments, said QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

 

He made these remarks at a high-level session during the Global Review of Aid for Trade hosted by the World Trade Organization in Geneva.

 

QU emphasised that fair trade practices are essential for promoting inclusive and equitable growth, noting that trade should be complementary by nature.

 

He spoke on a panel alongside Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, Cameroon's Minister of Trade, Mathieu Guibolo Fanaa, Chad's Minister of Trade and Industry, and other experts. The discussion centred on making trade policy an effective tool for achieving global food security goals.

 

Feeding the world is not just a technical issue but a security challenge with humanity's future at stake, said Atangana. He highlighted the importance of clear and binding rules for developing nations and stressed that Aid for Trade initiatives should support the supply side and production development, without which infrastructure is less valuable.

 

Food security should be a priority for the WTO, said Fanaa, adding that this requires increasing agricultural production in Africa under equitable international market conditions.

 

Food security and agricultural trade were prominent topics in the breakout sessions of the three-day Aid for Trade conference, with FAO officers participating in several discussions.

 

The Director-General offered five suggestions to improve global food security, noting that FAO's forecasts predict nearly 600 million chronically undernourished people in 2030.

 

First, he advocated supporting growth by investing in rural infrastructure, including broadband and financial services, roads, and storage facilities to improve market access for smallholders who produce most of the world's food.

 

Second, he emphasised investing in research, development, and innovation to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of agrifood systems, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote integrated and sustainable water management and use. "This is the only way to produce more with less," he said.

 

Reducing food loss and waste was his third key point.

 

Fourth, he stressed focusing on smallholders and vulnerable populations to achieve the previous goals.

 

Lastly, QU called for stronger global collaboration and governance to achieve a food-secure and sustainable world.

 

"We have to look after our own planet before it's too late," the Director-General concluded.

 

-      Food and Agriculture Organisation