The governments of Nigeria, Spain, the United States of America, the African Union, the European Union, Colombia, Germany and Indonesia have agreed to save hundreds of millions of people around the world threatened by global food security.
A statement released in New York on Wednesday said the leaders made the declaration after a meeting on Tuesday.
The leaders said the food insecurity challenge has been compounded by the pandemic, growing pressures from the climate crisis, high energy and fertiliser prices, and protracted conflicts.
They added that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has disrupted production and supply chains and increased global food insecurity for the most vulnerable.
The statement reads: “We can only overcome global food insecurity by working together to create innovative partnerships – including international financial institutions and other key stakeholders – within the global community. We commit to strengthen international cooperation and partnership initiatives between the United Nations and regional and sub-regional organizations as well as civil society organizations. As of September 20, 2022, over 100 United Nations Member States have endorsed the Roadmap for Global Food Security – Call to Action.
“We underscore the need to act with sustained urgency and in coordination to fulfill the goals of the 2021 Food Systems Summit – as well as to respond to immediate humanitarian needs and build more resilient agriculture and food systems.”
”They decided to take seven lines of action, including making financial donations to key humanitarian organisations; poviding in-kind donations and necessary associated costs to key humanitarian organisations for transportation and delivery of food commodities; opening food, fertiliser, and agricultural markets and avoiding restrictive measures on food and fertiliser.
”They also decided to support an increase of fertiliser production and promote methods to maximise fertiliser efficiency.
Other steps are: “Accelerate efforts to support sustainable agriculture and food systems, through strengthening agricultural productivity, particularly in the most affected countries to build their resilience and support domestic production, including as appropriate through efforts to support an energy transition that is just and equitable, to make them more resilient and available to producers of all scale, including small holder farmers;
“Increase investments in research and technology to develop and implement science-based and climate-resilient agricultural innovations, including seeds, that contribute to building sustainable and resilient agricultural sectors and food systems; and
Monitor markets affecting food systems, including futures markets, to ensure full transparency, and to share reliable and timely data and information on global food market developments, especially through the relevant international organisations.”
