Food Security Issues Raised At Global Event Attended By Pope Francis

The most startling issue that was of concern to governments all over the world when the pandemic hit and subsequently going into lockdown was whether the global food supply will be disrupted, cutting vital link to the survival of its people. Fortunately, even though early days of lockdown saw people rushing to supermarkets and emptying shelves, serious shortages were mostly averted but the pandemic did highlight the attention required in keeping a nations food supply is sustainable when future situation arises.

Putting firm actions down was the topic at the 42nd The Food And Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of The United Nation Conference attended by our Minister of Agriculture and Food Industries, Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee who led a delegation over a virtual event that saw 1300 participants from 183 countries. The FAO Conference convened with the opening remarks by FAO Director-General Dr. Qu Dongyu, Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella and Pope Francis.

With the our nations theme “AGRICULTURE FOOD SYSTEMS TRANSFORMATION: FROM STRATEGY TO ACTION” Ronald Kiandee emphasised on the national food security agenda to ensure adequate, affordable, safe and quality food for our people. Currently, National Agrofood Policy 2.0 (NAP 2.0) 2021-2030 is being finalised to ensure a robust food system at the national level and to overcome food security challenges with participation of cooperation from various ministries, agencies, academicians, private sectors, and NGOs.

Keeping paces with the advancement of emerging technologies in digital era and adapting to Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0), the Minister highlighted the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 to the conference. He remarked that the spirit is embedded into 12th Malaysia Plan 2021-2025 and emphasis will be given to improve productivity, support system, and services as well as to strengthen the food value chain, contributing further towards the resilience of the food system. Adding that the agrofood sector will be strongly driven by modernisation through mechanisation and technology adoption to boost the contribution of total agriculture value-added to gross domestic product (GDP).

The Conference also addressed FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031 which has been developed through consultations with Member States and FAO key partners. Malaysia on its part appreciates FAO’s effort in developing the Strategic Framework 2022-2031, particularly on the key aspects of “leaving no one behind” through sustainable, inclusive and resilient food systems; recognizing cross-cutting themes of gender, youth, inclusion as well as
indigenous people to emphasize their significant role in achieving 2030 Agenda. In addition, the framework aims in strengthening partnerships and achieving impacts of the four betters; Better Production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment and Better Life which reflected the interconnected economic, social and environmental dimensions of
agriculture and food systems.

In the conference, Malaysian delegation advanced the priorities of accelerating innovation and digital transformation in agriculture policies. Malaysia further encourages FAO to leverage more resources to support the implementation of the programs and projects under Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC) and to further scale up the initiatives’ dimensions to empower more developing countries especially towards furthering cooperation in food and agriculture sectors, particularly in areas of technology and innovation, exchange of technical expertise, capacity building and knowledge sharing.

The important outcome of the 42nd FAO Conference focuses on the challenges that the global community is facing today, and this includes the impacts of COVID-19, access to healthy diet, poverty and inequality, malnutrition and food insecurity

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