Towards Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security
Presented byDr. Noeleen Heyzer
Under-Secretary-General of the United NationsExecutive Secretary ESCAP
Launching “Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security in the Asia Pacific”
• Information on the scope/magnitude of the Asia’s Food Crisis
• Policy guidance on how to respond
Hunger Hotspots in the Asia-Pacific2003-2005
National averages mask sub-regional differences in food security
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Thailand
Turkmenistan
Iran (Islamic Rep. o f)
Tajikistan
M alaysia
Indonesia
Vietnam
Sri Lanka
M yanmar
Cambodia
Pakistan
Nepal
Lao PDR
India
Timor-Leste
Bangladesh
Afghanistan
Percentage
Rural
Urban
Proportion of underweight children in urban and rural areas for select countries
The Root of Asia-Pacific’s Food InsecurityCause 1. Poverty
Poverty is the principle cause of food insecurity:
• Lack of income
• Poor sanitation/dirty water
• Lack of land to grow crops
Cause 2: Lower Farm Revenues
• Food manufacturers want more crops at lower prices.
• Exploitative intermediaries lower farm profits
• Inefficient transport, storage and distribution of food
Cause 3: Environmental Degradation & Competition For Resources
Environment Impacts:• Destructive farming
practices
• Deforestation
• Desertification
• Climate change
Resource Competition: • Water • Land
Cause 4: Protectionist Trade Policies
673
1009
737
799
835
1015
481
393378357
722
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
1100
1200
Nov-
2007
Dec-
2007
Jan-
2008
Feb-
2008
M ar-
2008
Apr-
2008
M ay-
2008
Jun-
2008
Jul-
2008
Aug-
2008
Sep-
2008
US Dollar per tonne
Philippines April
tender >$1100/ton
Stronger
influence of the
financial crisis
Viet Nam tightens
export restrictions
Philippines M arch
tender >$700/ton
Japan announces
release of rice stocks
India announces its
expectation of a rice surplus
India imposes
export
restrictions
Example: Trade and the price of rice 2007-2008
Cause 5: Volatile Fuel Prices & Speculation Amplify Food Prices
Volatile fuel prices:
Speculation
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
FAO food price index (1998-2000=100)
$0
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
$120
$140
$160
Brent crude oil price, United States dollars / barrel
Food
Oil
0
5 0
1 0 0
1 5 0
2 0 0
2 5 0
3 0 0
3 5 0
4 0 0
2 0 0 2 2 0 0 3 2 0 0 4 2 0 0 5 2 0 0 6 2 0 0 7 2 0 0 8
Price of rice, index (1998-2000=100)
RICE
Cause 6: Decline of Government Investment in Agricultural Research & Development
• Little government research into sustainable agricultural practices
• Commercial research into genetically modified crops and livestock has raised concerns
Long Term Supply & Demand Trends
• Population growth and increased prosperity will drive demand for more food
• Present increases in food productivity will not be able to meet long term needs
Asia-Pacific
World
Africa
LAC
N Am
Europe
95
105
115
125
135
145
155
165
175
185
1990 1994 1998 2002 2006
1990=100
Index of change in GDP in the regions of the World 1990 - 2007
Regional Food Security Priorities:
1. Improving access to food
2. Promoting sustainable agriculture
3. Adapting and mitigating climate change impacts
Short Term: Improving Access
• Economic and social access
• Improved health
• Social protection against shocks
• Trade, transportation & logistics
Medium Term: Sustainable Agriculture
• Revitalizing small-scale sustainable food production
• Promoting rain-fed agriculture
• Improving water management
• Village knowledge and technology centers
Long-term: Climate Change
• National Capacities include forecasting, M&E and risk management
• Community Resilience includes adaptation measures and disaster preparedness
ESCAP’s Role
• Social Protection
• Regional trade and transport
• Agricultural Research and Development
• Monitoring
In Closing…
• MDG 1 commits us to eradicating poverty and hunger
• ESCAP will help identify policies, resources and synergies that reconnect people with food in our region
I Thank You