“Climate change affects every aspect of the agrifood system,” said Allison Thomas, chairperson of the Apec Policy Partnership on Food Security as officials meet in Palm Springs, California, this week.
“The Covid-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions have further exacerbated an already fragile food economy,” Thomas explained. “Adding to that, the current global conflict further hampers food distribution and production throughout the world.”
A recent report by the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization highlighted that around 2.3 billion people lacked access to adequate food in 2021. That’s almost 30 percent of the world’s population.
“Severe food insecurity increased globally and in every region,” wrote the report.
In response to this, the United States, as the host of Apec 2023, is proposing the development of a common set of principles that can aid member economies in developing resilient agri-food systems and guide regional cooperation in a bid to drive regional conversations about sustainable development, economic security, environmental commitments and trade through the agricultural and food lens as Apec collectively moves towards enhancing regional food security.
Agriculture and food ministers last year endorsed an Implementation Plan of the Food Security Roadmap Towards 2030 to navigate and coordinate actions, projects and activities to achieve food security in the region.
This year, members are discussing specific actions to implement the Food Security Roadmap Towards 2030 that covers six focus areas: digitalization and innovation, productivity, inclusivity, sustainability, public-private partnerships and Smart goals.
“Our goal is simple and complex at the same time; we must ensure that people have enough food to eat, that the environment and the planet are safe and that farmers can stay in business,” Thomas explained.
“We have to focus on data-driven and science-based policy decisions. We have to focus on leveraging innovation and science, technology and new technology to afford our farmers, fishers, foresters and our producers with the tools that they need to be productive, resilient and effective.”
The Food Security Ministerial Meeting will be held in Seattle and is scheduled to take place in August this year. (PR)