He made the remarks at the Italy-Africa Ministerial Conference in Rome, which includes foreign ministers and other officials from more than 45 African Countries, as well as representatives from the African Union, other international organizations, and the private sector.

Food safety hazards are increasingly being recognized as a major public health problem worldwide, yet among developing countries, there is limited understanding of the wider-ranging socio-economic costs of unsafe food and the benefits of remedial or preventative measures. This limited evidence base has led many countries to underinvest in food safety, or invest inefficiently in reaction to serious outbreaks of foodborne illness, other food scares, or trade interruptions. For many countries experiencing rapid urbanization and dietary changes, the growing complexity of food safety hazards is outpacing if not overwhelming prevailing food safety management capacity-both in government and in supply chains.

This report strengthens the economic case for increased public investment and other policy attention on food safety in developing countries. It is directed primarily at policy-makers, although researchers, development practitioners and food safety specialists will also find its content of value. By synthesizing and interpreting the available evidence on the economic costs of unsafe food in relation to both domestic markets and trade, the report positions food safety as an integral part of economic development and food system modernization. It goes on to provide guidance on ways in which public policy and investment can improve food safety awareness and behavior from farm to fork.

You can access the publication here.

A Global Forum in Marrakesh supported by the European Union and organized by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and FAO has heard that development and international financing institutions must collaborate more strategically to leverage private investments.

22 - 23 October 2018
IFAD HQ, Rome (Italy)

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Save the Children Italy are hosting an international conference entitled “Leaving no one behind – making the case for adolescent girls”, which will be held on Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 October 2018 at IFAD headquarters, Rome, Italy.

The conference will highlight the importance of investing in adolescents to ensure that they grow up and are educated in a healthy and safe environment to prevent the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition, food insecurity and poverty. 

The purpose of this event aims at sustaining on-going momentum of identifying solutions to break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition, and to contribute to the achievement of the global nutrition goals and objectives of the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition.

Institutions, practitioners, technical specialists, academia and civil society organizations will join the conference and contribute to the debate.

The Committee on World Food Secuirty (CFS) wrapped up its 45th Session today, tasking itself with formulating Voluntary Guidelines for Food Systems and Nutrition for approval in 2020.
The decision, taken by the Green Climate Fund's Board at its 17-20 October 2018 meeting in Manama, Bahrain, will see some $35.8 million allocated to the project from the Green Climate Fund. The project will also receive $91.8 million from the Salvadoran Government and the Initiative for the Americas Fund (FIAES).
A UN program that is helping developing countries cut greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation has scored a number of successes by boosting their forest monitoring capacities, a new assessment says.

World Food Day 2018 will mark the 73rd anniversary of FAO’s founding. One of the most celebrated days in the UN calendar, events organized by FAO country offices, governments, local authorities and other partners in over 130 countries across the world will call for increased action to achieve Zero Hunger.

The official World Food Day (WFD) ceremony on 16 October at FAO headquarters will be an opportunity for leaders and key global players in the drive to achieve Zero Hunger and eliminate malnutrition, to remind the world that Zero Hunger is still possible if we can come together and take account of lessons learned, best practices and all evidence available. The campaign will raise the alarm over recently increased hunger figures and call on countries and other stakeholders to get back on track.

Working for Zero Hunger

After a period of decline, world hunger is on the rise again. Today, over 815 million people are suffering chronic undernourishment, according to the latest FAO report. Conflict, extreme weather events linked to climate change, economic slowdown and rapidly increasing overweight and obesity levels are reversing progress made in the fight against hunger and malnutrition.

Now is the time to get back on track. The world can achieve Zero Hunger if we join forces across nations, continents, sectors and professions, and act on evidence.

Zero Hunger moves beyond conflict-resolution and economic growth, taking the long-term approach to build peaceful, inclusive societies.

The World Food Day is a chance to show our commitment to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 – to end hunger and malnutrition. 

Visit the World Food Day website for more information about events and activities.

15-20 October 2018, FAO, Rome, Italy

The Committee on World Food Security (CFS) is the foremost inclusive international and intergovernmental platform for all stakeholders to work together to ensure food security and nutrition for all. The CFS Plenary session is held annually and is the central body for decision-taking, debate, coordination, lesson-learning and convergence by all stakeholders at a global level on food security issues.

Useful information

A few of the nutrition relevant side events include:

Improving Food Security & Nutrition Through Innovative Fish-Based Agri-Food Solutions: event co-organised by the World Bank Group (WBG) and UNSCN on Wednesday 17 Oct 18.00 - 19.30 CET, Red Room, FAO HQ (Rome). See flyer and final report

Bringing policies to life. Translating global nutrition policy into country practice: event co-organised by the UN Network for SUN and UNSCN on Thursday 18 Oct 18.00 - 19.30 CET, Red Room, FAO HQ (Rome). See flyer and final report.

A full list of nutrition related side events is available below.

 

 

This Resource framework is intended as a guidance tool for stakeholders involved in programme design, implementation and monitoring of Home-Grown School Feeding Programmes and the related policy and institutional environment, including, inter alia: governments and development partners providing technical and financial assistance, as well as civil society, community based organisations and the private sector. It is a knowledge product that harmonizes the existing approaches and tools, and builds on the wealth of expertise and experience with home grown school feeding models i.e. those designed to provide children in schools with safe, diverse and nutritious food, sourced locally from smallholders, with multiple impacts on SDGs. This knowledge product contains a discussion of concepts, issues and experience , as well as other considerations and elements of relevance to home grown school feeding programmes. This lays the ground for a community of practice to support innovation and learning, as well as replication, adaptation and expansion of successful models of interventions, for impact at scale.

This publication is the result of a broad based collaborative effort initiated and coordinated by the World Food Programme. It is authored by a team composed of experts from Rome-based Agencies including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the World Food Programme and from other partners including the Global Child Nutrition Foundation, the Partnership for Child Development, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development and the World Food Programme Centre of Excellence in Brazil. It has benefited from comprehensive reviews and wide consultations among the partner organizations at global, regional and country level, as well as with experts and members of various governments and relevant stakeholders at several relevant venues for learning and policy dialogue.

The Home-Grown School Feeding Resource Framework is available here.