Global forum on food security and nutrition

12.Alexandr Kaigorodtsev, East Kazakhstan State University, Kazakhstan

The problem of hunger in developing countries is very serious. In this regard, the world community needs to work together to improve the efficiency of agriculture as a result of implementation of innovative technologies. One such technology is the production of genetically modified foods. However, the expansion of production of such products should be preceded by research on their safety, to put an end to disputes about whether they are harmful or useful.

Sincerely,

Alexander Kaigorodtsev (East Kazakhstan state University)

13.Jessica John, Trinidad and Tobago

A good day to all

The Decade of Nutrition is an initiative for me that is personally welcomed as the avenue whereby greater emphasis is can be placed on the issues of food sovereignity in our region. Additionally, concerning critical activities that need to be included in the Work Programme, I refer to one of the pillars of food security specifically the use and utilisation of foods: maternal and child health from a nutrition standpoint is one of the crucial areas that warrants the investment of all stakeholders. 

14.Pat Vanderkooy, Dietitian of Canada, Canada

1. Improving nutrition and food security of the people in (my) country within the next ten years:  Income security is the biggest barrier, because most people have physical access to food retail - this will require public policy, especially to improve incomes for households dependent on income from government sources (e.g., social assistance, disability pension).  However, Canada also has vulnerable populations and geographic regions where food insecurity exists in part due to lack of physical access to food - particularly among Indigenous Peoples and in northern and remote communities.  Distribution infrastructure and access to more local/country foods are barriers.  With respect to local food, there must be assessment of the relative value and feasibility of food produced locally vs food produced in the best 'locale'.  Geographic regions with ideal growing conditions (soil, climate - including effects of climate change, water) must be protected for agricultural use, especially in urbanized areas where there is tremendous pressure from urban sprawl (requiring governments at all levels to commit to land protection).

2.  Critical activities - intersectoral dialogue in every country, at all levels of government, with citizen engagement, with value placed on upholding food sovereignty.  Countries need national food policies that consider all the costs and benefits - health and environmental impacts, agriculture and economy.  Trade targets for export cannot be prioritized at the expense of population health and biodiversity - not sustainable at the global level.  Plant-based diets are more easily sustained - the world needs to seriously consider how population consumption habits will change, and some producers and processors will need to transition from animal-based industries.

3.  A personal opinion - there is increasing unease about monopolies in the agri-food sectors - how can we commit globally to limiting private sector monopolies to achieve balance and a reasonable degree of protection for food sovereignty among citizens?  What global indicators might be monitored?  Who could develop and enforce global food policy?

4. Protection of human rights and the environment must become entrenched beyond "movements" - these are not optional, they are essential for a globally sustainable food system!  If this awareness can be raised in the next decade, with universal agreement among governments, then that will be one mark of success.  Food and water are not simply "commodities" - they are not optional, they cannot be replaced by other "products" - and so ownership of and access to food and water must be fair and secure, a shared public responsibility to protect the right to food and water, with dignity and equity, not by charity.

15.Isaac Bayor, affiliated with the University of Notre Dame-USA, Ghana

In order for progress to be made, I think the UN should enhance and consolidate its "delivering as one" framework, particularly in Africa. In Africa, particularly the most rural and deprived communities where I have worked before, the issue of food security and nutrition is beyond the food aspect of the equation. There are thorny issues of Sanitation and hygiene that impede of household's ability to absorb vital nutrients. In most of the poor communities in Ghana, for instance, the issue of insufficient nutrition is both an issue of lack of nutritious food and lack of water, sanitation and hygiene. Lack of potable water and sanitation impedes on families ability to absorb vital nutrients.  

What I expect to see in my region is:

1. An enhanced richly textured integrated program that brings together the various expertise of the UN to jointly deliver on the UN action on FSN. I was privileged to be part of a joint UN program on Human Security in Northern Ghana  which, produce tremendous results. All the dimensions of Food availability, Access, Utilization, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene but be prioritized and tackle almost simultaneously. 

2. There should be advocacy targeting national governments to ensure that there is integrated and cross-sectoral planning by the various governmental department. Despite the clear link between food security, nutrition, and hygiene promotion, most governments departments in Africa unfortunately, still work in Siloe. If the UN agencies deliver together as one and the government departments who are supposed to own these interventions sill continue to operate in silos then there will be a little impact in the long run. My proposal is that institutions must be supported to have the capacity to also jointly plan, budget, implement, and monitor together. 

3. I will also like to see that, the campaign for food security and nutrition should go beyond household's consumption of food. I suggest there should be activities targeting open-market food vendors in villages in Africa (both cooked and uncooked food). There are two sub-issues to be addressed here - a. to tackle the problem of poorly prepared food which, most school and other school children highly patronize in the villages. It should be noted that, in most African communities local food vendors who sell cook food on the streets and other open places serve as an important source of food consumption by mostly children. However, these vendors have little or no idea of basic nutrition and hygienic practices. b. to tackle the issue of food waste. It is shocking to see the amount of food that is wasted in the open-market by these food vendors in the midst of scarcity of food in rural villages in Africa.