The Food and Agriculture Organization is an agency of the United Nations dedicated to ending world hunger. Each year, on October 16th, the FAO commemorates World Food Day, marking its inception in 1945. Located in Rome, Italy, it works alongside sister bodies: the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
Key Initiatives by the FAO
The FAO undertakes numerous initiatives aimed at defeating hunger globally. The Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) initiative is among these. It also oversees the worldwide desert locust situation. In terms of food standards, the organization works closely with The Codex Alimentarius Commission or CAC to implement the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme. Moreover, in 2001, the FAO’s Conference agreed on the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
Significant Publications by the FAO
The FAO regularly produces several flagship publications providing crucial insights into food and agriculture. Publications such as The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA), The State of the World’s Forests (SOFO), The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI), The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA), and The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets (SOCO) significantly contribute to global dialogue on food security and sustainability.
The Future of Food and Agriculture: An Insightful Report by FAO
Recently, the FAO published a new report titled ‘The Future of Food and Agriculture — Drivers and triggers for transformation’. This comprehensive document aims to stimulate strategic thinking and actions to align agrifood systems with sustainable, resilient, and inclusive futures.
Central Findings of the ‘Future of Food and Agriculture’ Report
The report identifies 18 interlinked socio-economic and environmental factors or ‘drivers’ influencing the various activities within agrifood systems, including farming, food processing, and consumption. Key drivers include poverty, inequalities, geopolitical instability, resource scarcity, degradation, and climate change.
The report cautions that without significant transformation in current agrifood systems, the world is at risk of persistent food insecurity, resource depletion, and unsustainable economic growth. It also highlights the need for proper alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly regarding agrifood targets, to avoid exacerbating existing structural and regional inequalities.
Projected Future Scenarios for Agrifood Systems
The report envisages four potential future scenarios: ‘More of the same’, conveying continuity of current trends; ‘Adjusted future’, suggesting slow progress towards sustainability; ‘Race to the bottom’, reflecting worst-case global disorder; and ‘Trading off for sustainability’, indicating preference for inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems over short-term GDP growth.
Concrete Suggestions for Transforming Agrifood Systems
According to the FAO, decision-makers must prioritize long-term, comprehensive solutions over quick fixes to foster sustainable and resilient future agrifood systems. Key ‘triggers of transformation’ could include improved governance, critical and informed consumers, better income and wealth distribution, and innovative technologies and approaches.
The Importance of Balancing Trade-offs for Transformation
A comprehensive transformation will require balancing contrasting objectives, tackling resistance to paradigm shifts, and addressing costs associated with transformation. All stakeholders, including governments, policy-makers, and consumers, must play their part to bring about this necessary change for a more sustainable and secure food future.
