4 November 2014
Second Committee Discusses Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition
story highlights

The UN General Assembly's (UNGA) Second Committee (Economic and Financial) discussed Agriculture development, food security and nutrition, beginning with an introduction to this year's report of the UN Secretary-General on the topic (A/69/279).

Nikhil Seth, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), highlighted the importance of food security, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture in the post-2015 development agenda.

unga6928 October 2014: The UN General Assembly’s (UNGA) Second Committee (Economic and Financial) discussed Agriculture development, food security and nutrition, beginning with an introduction to this year’s report of the UN Secretary-General on the topic (A/69/279). Nikhil Seth, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), highlighted the importance of food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture in the post-2015 development agenda. The debate took place on 28 October 2014, at UN Headquarters in New York, US.

Major issues discussed by UN Member States included: rural development; enhancement of agricultural productivity; investment in infrastructure such as roads, irrigation, communication systems and agriculture-related services; empowerment of small-holders, family-farmers, women, and youth; trade; food price volatility; technology transfer; sustainable fisheries; healthy marine ecosystems; sustainable aquaculture; food waste in the supply chain; vulnerability to natural disasters and shocks; and crops insurance.

Many speakers highlighted the importance of improving productivity of smallholder farmers, calling for measures that address their lack of access to credit, technical support and land tenure. Israel said smallholders farmers will be the source of the 60% rise in food production needed to feed the world population of 2050.

Many delegations underlined that climate change acts as a multiplier of the risks posed on food systems, and stressed the “seminal importance of national government ownership and leadership,” emphasizing that drought, desertification, land degradation, and loss of biodiversity also require sustainable land management. A few identified solutions, such as crop varieties resistant to drought, altered fertilizer management, and improved pest, disease and weed management, while the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) and US stressed the need for climate-smart agriculture.

Bolivia, for the Group of 77 and China, underlined the need to revitalize developing countries’ agricultural sectors and to empower indigenous groups, rural communities, small-scale farmers and fishers through finance and access to technology and technical know-how. He further called for eliminating all forms of agricultural subsidies and economic measures not in compliance with the World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

The Least Developed Countries (LDCs), on the importance of strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of the UN development system, welcomed the alignment of several UN entities’ strategic plans with the quadrennial comprehensive policy review (QCPR). But he noted the declining trends of UN funds and called for “bold measures within the new global partnership framework to address the challenges surrounding core resources”. He particularly urged development partners to increase contributions for LDCs’ targets.

A few delegations, including China, the EU, Ireland, Mongolia and Mozambique, stressed the need to increase private investment in agriculture. The EU, Ireland and Israel and others highlighted the importance of women’s rights to own and inherit land.

The Permanent Observer of the Holy See noted the paradox of millions dying of hunger while “an enormous quantity of food is wasted every day.” He added that the “throwaway culture” of affluent societies contributes to the paradox. [UN Press Release] [IISD RS Sources] [Meeting Webpage, Morning Session] [Meeting Webpage, Afternoon Session]

related posts