April 2017: Developments in food production in Arab countries, research on public spending for agriculture in Africa, collaboration to support sustainable rice production, and a new standard to safeguard plant health in international seed trade have recently contributed to global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal on zero hunger (SDG 2).

Improving Food Production in the Arab Region

Producing food in the Arab region is challenging as many countries face variable weather patterns, water scarcity, degraded land resources and pests and diseases. To ensure food security for their populations, many Arab countries rely on importing staple crops, especially wheat, which makes them vulnerable to swings in international food prices. Several international projects therefore work towards improving crop production within the Arab region to reduce the need for food imports. Two of these projects reported on their progress.

The ‘Enhancing Food Security in Arab Countries’ initiative of the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) aims to enhance agricultural productivity across the region focusing on wheat production. ICARDA reported that during the initiative’s first phase (2011-2014) an average yield increase of 28% was achieved across all demonstration sites, noting that the trend continued during the second phase (2014-2018). According to ICRADA, the success was in part due to the use of new communication technologies for extension and the dissemination of modern production technologies. The Institute also stated that the US$5.3 million invested during the initiative generated “in-pocket gains” of US$54.2 million thus far. During the remainder of the second phase, the initiative will focus on expanding the reach of the project to ensure the widest possible uptake of technologies and innovations. The initiative is supported by the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the Islamic Development Bank, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund for International Development, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. ICARDA is a member of the CGIAR Consortium. [ICARDA Press Release] [Enhancing Food Security in Arab Countries website]

To assess whether projects are effective in improving food security it is necessary to develop a regional food security monitoring system. This was the objective of the first consultative meeting ‘Food Security Assessment in the Arab Region’ held by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) the 11-12 April in Beirut, Lebanon. The meeting reviewed the results of a regional exercise to map national food security policies and strategies as well as indicators of food security used in Arab countries. Participants also considered how the regional food security monitoring system can be linked with the 2030 Agenda at national and regional levels. The meeting was held as part of a project titled ‘Promoting Food and Water Security through Cooperation and Capacity Development in the Arab Region,’ which aims to enhance food security in Arab countries through, among other activities, improved policy design and coordination, capacity building and strengthening of the regional knowledge base. [UNESCWA Press Release] [Meeting Concept Note] [Project Website: Promoting Food and Water Security Through Cooperation and Capacity Development in the Arab region]

Improving Public Spending for Food Security in Africa

The World Bank released a report that assesses the performance of public agricultural spending. Titled ‘Reaping Richer Returns: Public Spending Priorities for African Agriculture Productivity and Growth,’ the study reviews the trends and composition of public spending in African countries and how it impacts agriculture, including long-term returns. The analysis shows that public spending on agriculture in Africa is not only lower than in other countries, but its effectiveness is also hampered by the focus on subsidy and transfer programmes that benefit elites rather than poor people and agricultural producers. The report recommends addressing not only the quantity of public spending, but also its quality by implementing reforms that favor smart subsidies, support research and development, eliminate barriers to the uptake of innovative technologies, and improve market access and land governance. The study suggests that more efficient use of public funds will lay the foundation for agricultural transformation as it has done in other regions. [World Bank Press Release][Report Abstract] [Reaping Richer Returns: Public Spending Priorities for African Agriculture Productivity Growth]

In related news, the World Bank announced that Madagascar will receive US$78.7 million for a project aiming to improve access to irrigation services, agricultural inputs and service delivery for rice farmers, while reducing natural resource degradation. The funding includes a World Bank credit of US$65 million and a US$13.7 million grant provided by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).[World Bank Press Release]

Improving Rice Production

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), a member of the CGIAR Consortium, entered into a partnership to support sustainable rice production in poor countries and improve food security and livelihoods. The partnership focuses on building the capacity of governments to develop and implement policies and strategies that benefit small-scale farmers, especially women. The two organizations will assist countries in their efforts to, among other objectives, enhance the availability of certified seed, adopt improved rice varieties, improve knowledge transfer, strengthen post-harvest handling and develop value-added rice by-products.

IRRI also recently hosted a workshop on the mutually supportive implementation of two international agreements governing the exchange of plant genetic resources, including rice genetic resources managed by IRRI. The workshop provided an opportunity for national focal points from Asian countries to discuss complementary policies and procedures to jointly implement the FAO International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGR) and the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Participants considered national challenges in the coordinated implementation of these agreements to support access and benefit sharing, while also enhancing exchange of genetic materials for research. [FAO Press Release on Sustainable Rice] [FAO Press Release on ABS]

Ensuring Plant Health in International Seed Trade

Another aspect of international exchange of plants and seeds for agriculture is plant health. International trade in seeds and materials for planting represents a greater risk of introducing pathogens and pests than trade in food crops destined for consumption. Pathogens and pests introduced via seeds can establish themselves and spread after planting and devastate crops, creating a risk for food security.

To address the risk of such introductions, the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) adopted an International Phytosanitary Standard (ISPM) on the International Movement of Seeds’ during the twelfth session of its Governing Body, the Commission of Phytosanitary Measures (CPM 12). The standard harmonizes approaches to addressing phytosanitary risks associated with international seed trade, including, for example, risk analysis, laboratory testing, planting under restricted conditions, and pest management in seed production. This harmonization is expected to facilitate international trade in seeds, while safeguarding plant health and preventing international outbreaks of plant pests that result in crop failures.

Aside from this standard, CPM 12, adopted or updated 14 phytosanitary ISPMs, established an Implementation and Capacity Development Committee, initiated the development of its 2020-2030 Strategic Framework, and agreed on the need for a long-term sustainable and predictable finding mechanism for implementing its Work Programme. CPM 12 also marked the Commission’s 65th anniversary with a series of dedicated events highlighting IPPC achievements. [IPPC Press Release CPM 12] [IPPC Press Release 65th anniversary] [FAO Press Release] [UN Press Release] [International Standard on Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) on the International Movement of Seeds]