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