Dr. Arvind Kumar*
Agrifood systems are a major contributor to climate change, but they also have the potential to be part of the solution. Being the complex networks of people, activities, and resources that produce, process, and consume food, agrifood systems are significant for human well-being, nutrition, and health but they also have significant impacts on the environment and climate. According to the FAO, agrifood systems account for 31% of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions globally. These emissions emanate from various sources, such as crop and livestock production, land use change, fertilizer use, food processing, transport, and waste. The EU’s agri-food system contributed 31% of the total EU emissions in 2020, with almost equal shares from farm gate and pre- and post-production. According to UN estimates, 690 million people are already going hungry, partly due to climate change, and climate change could push another 100 million people below the poverty line by 2030.
According to the UNEP’s (United Nations Environment Programme) food wastage index report, 68.7 million tonnes of food is wasted annually in Indian homes, in simple words it is about 50 kgs per person. It stands 2nd worldwide in terms of household wastage of food only followed by China. A report by the National Resources Defence Council (NDRC) says that 40% of the food produced goes uneaten in the US, whereas in Asia, approx 1.34 billion tonnes of food gets wasted; the main contributors being India and China. How devastating is this when hunger and poverty is also present in Asia.
World Food Forum
In order to realize the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is of utmost importance to reduce the environmental impact stemming from agri-food systems. With this crucial aim in mind, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) hosted the Third World Food Forum from October 16 to 20, 2023, right at its headquarters in the heart of Rome, Italy. The central theme of this momentous event revolved around the idea of ‘Expediting Climate Action through the Transformation of Agrifood Systems.’ The forum served as a dynamic platform where a diverse array of participants, including young individuals, farmers, scientists, policymakers, investors, and various other stakeholders, came together to share insights and champion initiatives aimed at revolutionizing agri-food systems and hastening climate action.
The Third World Food Forum (WFF) saw an impressive turnout, with more than 10,000 participants hailing from over 150 countries, representing a diverse spectrum of sectors, backgrounds, and perspectives. Beyond the physical attendees, the WFF’s reach extended to millions of online participants through its website, social media platforms, webcasts, podcasts, blogs, newsletters, and publications. The overarching goal of the WFF was to serve as a catalyst for action, leaving a tangible impact, and expediting progress at local, regional, and global scales in the pursuit of transforming agrifood systems and addressing climate-related challenges.
The WFF consisted of three main components: the WFF Global Youth Forum, the FAO Science and Innovation Forum, and the FAO Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum. The Global Youth Forum is designed to bring together young people from around the world to discuss their ideas for transforming agrifood systems. The Third WFF Global Youth Forum afforded an opportunity for young people to share their ideas, experiences, and initiatives on how to transform agrifood systems and address climate change. The WFF Global Youth Forum empowered and connected young agents of change to spark global dialogues and galvanize transformative actions toward a sustainable global food system. The FAO Science and Innovation Forum is intended to illustrate the most recent advancements in research and innovation within the realm of agrifood systems. During the Third WFF, the focus was on presenting cutting-edge scientific and technological innovations, along with the best practices aimed at bolstering the durability and sustainability of agrifood systems. The FAO Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum aims to unite investors and various stakeholders for conversations about investment prospects within agrifood systems. During the Third WFF Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum, a platform was provided to foster partnerships and secure investments for the expansion of successful agrifood solutions, with an emphasis on creating growth opportunities that are both inclusive and environmentally sustainable.
The WFF also featured a Grand Opening ceremony, a Youth Assembly, a Climate Solutions Superstars competition, a High-Level Dialogue on Agrifood Systems Transformation and Climate Action, and several thematic sessions, roundtables, workshops, exhibitions, and networking events. Some of the topics covered during the WFF included: food security and nutrition, biodiversity and ecosystems, digital transformation, social protection and inclusion, gender equality and women empowerment, rural development and urbanization, trade and markets, governance and policies, innovation and entrepreneurship, education and capacity development, finance and investment. The President of the World Bank Group, Ajay Banga, was one of the keynote speakers at the WFF. He highlighted the achievements and challenges of the World Bank Group in supporting its member countries to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and build a more resilient and inclusive future. He also announced several new initiatives and partnerships to support low- and middle-income countries to access COVID-19vvaccines, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, boost digital connectivity and innovation, and cross-border trade and cooperation.
Outcomes
The forum showed the world the importance of active engagement of global youth in all global processes; the importance of partnership, collaboration, and solidarity and bringing all partners from across the spectrum together to take concrete action, and the importance of leveraging the power of science and innovation, and investments. A total of 110 investments, designed to benefit over 149 million beneficiaries, were unveiled, with more than $15 billion in agrifood investment opportunities showcased. The forum contributed to the implementation of the outcomes of the UN Food Systems Summit 2022 and the preparation for the COP 28 Climate Change Conference 2023.
The forum featured a Gand Opening ceremony, a Youth Assembly, a Climate Change Solutions Superstars competition, a High-Level Dialogue on Agrifood Systems Transformation and Climate Action, and several thematic sessions, roundtables, workshops, exhibitions, and networking events. The forum also featured powerful speeches from youth activists, world leaders, and ministers who highlighted the urgent need for action and collaboration to address the global challenges of hunger, climate change, and inequality.
The Forum provided a distinctive platform for uniting stakeholders worldwide to deliberate the challenges and prospects associated with the transformation of agrifood systems. The forum was anticipated to generate momentum for addressing climate change and enhancing food security. As the flagship event of the World Food Forum (WFF) in 2023, it gathered individuals from a broad spectrum of backgrounds to collaboratively envision a future characterized by widespread food security and ecological sustainability. Participants had the unique opportunity to engage in sessions with stakeholders and policymakers, actively contributing to the shaping of the future of agrifood systems via pioneering roundtable discussions. They were able to draw inspiration from a diverse array of perspectives and glean valuable insights from global visionaries, leading experts, and local change-makers who are at the forefront of transformative efforts.
Conclusion
With hunger levels rising and domestic food prices inflation soaring in much of the world, collective actions are necessary to meet immediate and longer-term global food security objectives. Efforts to revolutionize agrifood systems demand a collaborative approach involving various parties, including governments, corporations, farmers, public and civil society. There exist several encouraging innovations with the potential to reshape these systems, encompassing climate-resilient farming, regenerative agricultural practices, and the reduction of food wastage. It is crucial to make strategic investments in research and development to expedite the rate of innovation within agrifood systems. Furthermore, international collaboration is imperative to bolster the transformation of agrifood systems in developing nations. We need to work together in an efficient, effective and coherent manner to address the challenges, and identify the solutions needed for concrete actions leading to tangible results on the ground. We cannot ignore the role of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in poverty reduction and rural and agricultural development and therefore in moving the SDGs forward. Small businesses now more than ever have the potential to help address the vulnerabilities of our global food system including climate change impacts, inequalities, and biodiversity loss in order to accelerate the transition to more sustainable agrifood systems.
*Editor, Focus Global Reporter
