EC High-level event on food and agriculture in times of crisis

2-3 April 2019. Brussels.  The European Commission in Brussels – on behalf of the Global Network against Food Crises – hosted the high-level event on food and agriculture in times of crisis.

#FightFoodCrises

The high-level event:
  • Set the scene of the current and projected situation with respect to food crises and related trends and drivers based on solid and consensus-based evidence.
  • Highlight current and future challenges and opportunities to reduce the risks of food crises, focusing on the role of agricultural livelihoods and related agri-food systems in the framework of social, environmental, economic and security dynamics.
  • Review policies, initiatives, tools, and coordination mechanisms currently in place to address food crises, exploring whether emerging and recurrent challenges require changes and adaptive strategies, and defining areas for improvement and innovative solutions and partnerships.
  • Draw political, strategic and operational conclusions and define a roadmap to address food crises, ensure food security and eradicate hunger by 2030.
Speakers included:
  • Neven Mimica, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development
  • Christos Stylianides, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management
  • Phil Hogan, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development
  • José Graziano Da Silva, Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
  • David Beasley, Executive Director, World Food Programme
  • Yves Daccord, Director General, International Committee of the Red Cross
  • Shenggen Fan, Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute
  • Djimé Adoum, Executive Secretary, Permanent Interstates Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel
  • Mahboub Maalim, Executive-Secretary, Intergovernmental Authority on Development
Related:
This year’s Global Report on Food Crises highlights the plight of millions of people who must fight every day against acute hunger and malnutrition. More than 113 million people across 53 countries experienced acute hunger requiring urgent food, nutrition and livelihoods assistance (IPC/CH Phase 3 or above) in 2018.

The worst food crises in 2018, in order of severity, were: Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Sudan, South Sudan and northern Nigeria. These eight countries accounted for two thirds of the total number of people facing acute food insecurity – amounting to nearly 72 million people.

Related:
FAO and Africa-Europe Diaspora Development Platform (ADEPT) partnership focuses on links between migration, agriculture and rural development.

The agreement, signed in Brussels on the side-lines of the high-level event on Food and Agriculture in Times of Crises, marks the beginning of a formal collaboration in the areas of migration and rural development, with a focus on diaspora-related issues and agribusiness.
"We tend to underestimate the power of the diaspora in peace, development, humanitarian and, of course, around migration issues. We are signing this Memmorandum of Understanding with ADEPT today to work more closely together and give visibility to the potential diaspora holds, but also to what is already happening with diaspora communities," FAO Deputy Director-General Daniel Gustafson.
 "Migration is a development driver generating positive change at the local and
international level. The African diaspora is one of the key actors of this process, bringing about financial, intellectual and social contribution. We hope the FAO-ADEPT cooperation will enable us to join energies, knowledge, networks and expertise in two interlinked areas, migration and agriculture, for the benefit of the African people and continent." ADEPT President Khady Sakho Niang
ADEPT, an international non-profit based in Belgium, supports and empowers African diaspora
development organizations based within the European Union, Norway and Switzerland. While helping to formally involve African diaspora groups in development processes in Africa, it also serves as a point of reference for those interested in African development issues, migration and development policy.

Related:
The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF), which will celebrate its 5th year anniversary in 2019, has announced the dates for its prestigious annual conference and awards, which will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), 29-30 October 2019.

The conference theme this year is, Enhancing Impact: Digitalisation, Investment and Intra-African Trade. The two-day event aims to promote and accelerate the growth of women-owned and women-led businesses for Africa’s inclusive economic growth.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Climate Smart Seed Systems Research

Image
GCRF-AFRICAP is a major programme to make agriculture and food production in Sub-Saharan Africa more productive, sustainable and resilient to climate change. Working with local organisations and governments in Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia , if is creating an evidence base to underpin new country-specific policies in agriculture and food production. Through the GCRF-AFRICAP programme, FANRPAN and the University of Leeds are conducting research into Climate Smart Seed Systems . As part of the research, the survey is seeking responses to this short survey from those involved in seed system activity (e.g. gene/seed banks, crop breeders , regulators, seed companies, agro-dealers, extension officers, farmers) across Africa. GCRF-AFRICAP  is particularly interested in the priorities and activities that direct seed systems in Africa, and evaluating the importance of and responses to climate variability and change within these systems. The survey takes 5-10 minutes to complete. Yo
Read more

Forum for the Future of Agriculture

Image
9 April 2019.  Brussels. FFA2019 : The next generation . The Forum for the Future of Agriculture (FFA) has been contributing to the debate on agriculture and the environment in Brussels since 2008. The FFA is now firmly established as the premier event where agriculture and environment meet each year for an open dialogue. "There is no more time to waste. It is often said that tomorrow belongs to the next generation. Unfortunately, we have made the world in which the tomorrow is already predetermined by us – for all of them, around the world. Make no mistake, the next generation is already out there. There are hundreds of millions of them, and the vast majority lives in the developing world . They have as much right as anyone in this room to a sustainable, just, and happy life."   Janez Potočnik  Chair FFA2019, Chairman RISE Foundation  -  Read full speech Extract of the programme: OPENING ADDRESS  Ertharin Cousin,  12th Executive Director, United Nations World Food Programme
Read more

3rd One Planet Summit

Image
14 March 2019 . Nairobi. While Africa is responsible for only 4% of global greenhouse-gas emissions, 65% of the African population is considered to be directly impacted by climate change. This first regional edition of the One Planet Summit highlighted the unique role of Africa as a global partner facing both challenges and opportunities, in particular in the field of innovative solutions for adaptation and resilience. The Summit brought together high-level officials, CEOs and inspiring voices from youth, and civil society to showcase concrete achievements and breakthrough initiatives, and trigger new coalitions and commitments. Designed as a full day of High-Level conversations and Coalition building for Climate and Environmental action in Africa, the event preceded the high-level segment of UNEA-4. Extacts of the high level programme NEW BUSINESS MODELS FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY IN AFRICA African Solutions: New Business Models   Akinwumi Adesina, President, African Development Bank  @1:1
Read more