Without global political mobilisation and massive investment in sustainable food systems, the UN Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) ‘to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture’ by 2030 will not be met, warned MEPs on the evening of Wednesday 15 September, in an exchange with the European Commission prepared by the Committees on Development (DEVE) and on Agriculture (AGRI).
Fighting hunger and malnutrition is not just about development, it is linked to the ‘European Green Deal’ and the ‘Farm to Fork’ (F2F) strategy, stressed the DEVE Committee Chair Tomas Tobé (EPP, Sweden).
A week ahead of the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS), scheduled for 23 September at the UN General Assembly, MEPs said they were alarmed at the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the world’s food supply and called on the EU to play a leading role. This requires a clear commitment from Member States, a clear role for UN agencies, they said.
Last year, hunger increased. One in ten people were undernourished. In Africa, one in five people were malnourished. Twenty-two percent, or 150 million, of the world’s children are chronically malnourished. “This is why the Nutrition for Growth World Summit, to be held in Kyoto later this year, will be important“, Mr Tobé said.
He recalled that in 2013, the EU had distinguished itself on the international scene by committing €3.5 billion by 2030 and that in November 2014, a European Parliament resolution had called on Member States to mobilise investments for food, notably against malnutrition.
With the debate underway, the Committee on Development will begin work on a report.
It will also be necessary to determine how to use trade policy to ensure global transition, what measures to take to support partner countries, to help local farmers, fishermen and foresters, to promote animal welfare and sustainable use of pesticides.
EU Commissioner Nicolas Schmit stressed, on behalf of the European Commission, that the EU’s F2F strategy, on which the European Parliament will vote in October (see EUROPE 12788/15), was specifically aimed at fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food systems, but that the EU could not act alone. According to him, “the transition must be global”.
He assured MEPs that the EU was “very much involved in the preparation of the two UN summits”. This is backed by the EU Council’s conclusions in favour of ambitious results, the meeting last June of EU Agriculture Ministers with representatives of the African Union and the 750 million a year in EU investment committed to green investment. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)