Global forum on food security and nutrition

109.Martin Zerfas, Humane Society International, United States of America

Food security is often incorrectly used as a justification for the inhumane confinement of animals on industrial farm animal production facilities, while in reality, the industrialization of animal agriculture jeopardizes food security by degrading the environment, threatening human health, and diminishing income-earning opportunities in rural areas.

Although industrialized animal agriculture may increase production for larger farmers, it simultaneously crowds small farmers out of the market and reduces employment opportunities, demonstrating that economic growth at a national level does not necessarily improve food security. Small farmers who try to directly compete with large animal agribusiness are at risk of being pushed out of the market because they lack the political and economic power of the larger companies, or the ability to exploit economies of scale. For example, rural women in many developing countries tend to engage in smallholder egg and poultry meat production, but increased levels of intensification in egg and chicken meat production have been shown to decrease the number of women involved in poultry keeping.

Protein obtained from plant-based sources such as pulses is, according to the FAO, "significantly less expensive" compared to animal foods. Producing meat, milk and eggs actually takes more away from the world's total food supply than it provides. The FAO's report "Livestock's Long Shadow" estimated an annual deficit of 19 million tonnes of protein when comparing the protein contained in animal feed with the amount of protein yielded from animal source food production.

Animal agriculture also affects food security through its well-documented role in climate change, resource depletion, and public heath issues related to overconsumption and non-communicable diseases. Given forecasts for the continued expansion of animal agriculture production globally, and especially in emerging and developing economies, stakeholders should consider inceasing plant-based interventions to enhance food security, while also questioning the increasing reliance on meat, milk and eggs in this regard.

110.Christine Campeau, facilitator of the discussion, UNSCN

Dear Colleagues,

As our online consultation draws to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their valuable contributions. I am delighted with the rich exchange that we’ve had over the last few weeks.

A number of contributors have highlighted the need to develop a common vision of success to be supported by national roadmaps. Examples received from government ministries show us how this can be done.

Danny Hunter from Bioversity International rightly reminds us that there are two relevant UN Decades in progress: Action on Nutrition (2016-2025) and Biodiversity (2011-2020). It will be important to build synergies between these efforts to maximize the impact of both. Diets, with their environmental and health benefits, can provide a link.

This consultation served as another building block in the development of the Work Programme of the Decade. The process of consultation will continue, and we welcome your commitments under the six pillars identified in the ICN2 Framework for Action: sustainable food systems for healthy diets; aligned health systems providing universal coverage of essential nutrition actions; social protection and nutrition education; trade and investment for improved nutrition; enabling food and breastfeeding environments; and review, strengthen and promote nutrition governance and accountability.

Setting out the Work Programme of the Decade will be an inclusive, continuous and collaborative process, building upon and connecting the independent initiatives of governments and their many partners. As we move further into the Decade, UNSCN looks forward to engaging with you in an effort to translate the selected policy options and strategies into country specific commitments for action, in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and various regional strategic frameworks.

While unfortunately we must bring this discussion to a close, I would like to invite you to send any additional contributions directly to [e-mail] within the next few days. I will do my best to summarise the general themes and specific ideas generated by this online consultation in a single document over the next few weeks, so keep an eye on the FSN Forum page. We may also reach out to you as potential authors for our upcoming flagship publication, SCN News, which will go more in-depth on some of the issues raised.

I thank you again for your support and contributions to this discussion. It has been an extremely rewarding and refreshing process.

Together we can make this Decade a decade of impact for nutrition.

Kind regards,

Christine Campeau

111.Mariela Victoria López, INTI – Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial – Lácteos, Argentina

Original contribution in Spanish

Buenos días!

Es un honor estar compartiendo opiniones con personas de todo el mundo en este foro.

Considero fundamental que dentro de las actividades o herramientas que deben incluirse en el Programa de Trabajo para la implementación del Decenio de las Naciones Unidas de Acción sobre la Nutrición y para alcanzar los objetivos nutricionales mundiales de 2025, es la Educacion Alimentaria. Sin la educación alimentaria y nutricional es muy dificil que las personas puedan realizar patrones alimentarios saludables. La inseguridad alimentaria presente en muchos países y ciudades del mundo impiden también, que las personas se alimenten como deben y de acuerdo a sus culturas.

Desde el colegio, desde las instituciones educativas, estos temas DEBEN estar en la agenda de planificación anual y en las curriculas escolares. La alimentación como eje central del desarrollo humano es un tema que nos involucra a todos los seres humanos en cualquier parte del mundo. ¿Cómo puede ser que ésto no suceda? ¿Cómo los gobiernos no se involucran en estas cuestiones que son la raíz de muchos problemas de salud? 

Un saludo

Mariela López

English translation

Good morning!

It is a real honour for me to be sharing opinions with people all over the world in this forum

Including food education in the Work Programme for the implementation of the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition to reach the 2025 global nutrition targets is of crucial importance. Without food and nutrition education, adopting healthy dietary habits is very difficult for the population. Food insecurity in many countries and cities around the world also prevents people from eating properly and having access to culturally appropriate food.

These issues MUST be included in the annual planning agenda and the school curricula of educational institutions. As a central pillar of human development, food is a topic affecting all humanity anywhere in the world. How is it possible to leave out these topics? Why governments do not get involved in these issues which are the underlying cause of many health problems?

Best regards,

Mariela López