Explore Official Dialogue Feedback

The current socio-economic trends are the major drivers of the Nigerian food system; the country is facing major challenges, including but not limited to a high population growth, a high number of people living in extreme poverty, unprecedented urbanisation, and thus, agriculture is faced with an abysmally low productivity. Public investments in the agricultural sector are low, resulting in poor rural infrastructure such as access roads, storage facilities and processing facilities. There are also poor or uncoordinated agricultural services like advisory services, poor access to inputs and fin... Read moreance. There are also very weak institutions, poor and uncoordinated links between research and practice, low literacy and poor market access and information, usually with high transaction costs and high investment risks. The major findings of the dialogue include but not limited to the following: 1. Nigeria has an opportunity to reshape its food systems to sustainably impact on its national development aspirations by putting in place strong and proactive national development plans with achievable targets and timelines, through heavy public investments in operational enabling environment, infrastructure and implementation policies. 2. Nigeria needs to coordinate and strengthen our major Value Chains to make them sustainably functional, stable and purposefully apolitical by evolving support programs and provision of needed information and data, and matchmaking services through a national support unit. 3. We need a matchmaking service of private capital and other partners with agricultural know-how to create access to micro-finance for young and/or female entrepreneurs, in combination with business coaching, advisory services 4. We need to develop a technical and vocational training for the youth and women, that can be linked to major value chains and/or processors and also having access to finance, which can lead to the promotion of responsible investment in the sector, thus creating decent jobs. 5. Nigeria needs to embark on public awareness raising and knowledge improvement on healthy diets; (public and private) investments in domestic agricultural production and processing capacities to improve the production of food and cash crops and reduce food losses 6. We need to improve on sharing of data and information as well as technical know-how/technologies on climate change impacts and adaptation strategies for value chain actors. 7. We need a concerted and coordinated national plan and actions to curb insecurity in and around the country to allow productive agricultural activity that would increase quality and quantity of food for all in a sustainable manner 8. Nigeria needs to urgently increase it’s funding to research and development 9. Environmental degradation, especially loss of biodiversity and soil fertility must be reversed in a sustainable manner, taking regenerative agriculture into cognisance to decrease carbon emission and greenhouse gas emission within a specific time frame. 10. Nigeria needs a bold and decisive investment into irrigation agriculture and target mechanization of major field operations While the above will take a long gestation period, it is necessary to, as a matter of urgency, to strategize by taking immediate actions. The following are specific steps recommended to begin the transformation of our food systems: • Ensure speedy passage of the Right to Food Bill • Increase budgetary allocations to the agricultural sector to meet Mobuto declaration target of budgeting 10% of the total annual budget • Ensure sustainable general public security to allow agricultural production activities return to normalcy • Promote the production, access to and utilization of nutritious indigenous foods in a sustainable way. • Ensure enforcement of extant rules by relevant regulatory authorities responsible for the organization and coordination on safety and quality assurance on food. • Design and engage in Vigorous sensitization campaigns on food safety • Improve rail transport system in the country to address challenges of transportation of farm produce. • Create awareness, advocate for, and educate on safe and healthy food consumption • develop Farmers capacity to embrace market-driven production to enhance income and purchasing power • Strengthen linkages between research, policy, and practice • Enforce existing regulation and sanction for environmental degradation • Reposition and strengthen agricultural research institutes. • Establish a Centre of Excellence for Regenerative Agriculture and restoration of ecosystems. • Create and strengthen policies and legislation on protection of the Agricultural Ecosystem enforced • There should be more youth and women engaged in Agriculture by raising level of agricultural mechanization • Develop Strategies aimed at implementing existing gender policies in Nigeria should be put in place. • Encourage and support Private sector to work with public extension outfit to incorporate extension service as an after sales package • Mainstream nutrition into every agricultural programme and education system • There should be massive public enlightenment on the reality of climate change, its causes and effects on agriculture • There must be timely generation and dissemination of weather forecasts and advisories in the language and channels available to local farmers Read less

Group 1: Poor people are able to eat nutritious foods that will not make them sick Actions urgently needed Strand 1: Reducing hunger and inequality • Ensure speedy passage of the Right to Food Bill. • Foster more budgetary allocation to the agricultural sector; • Increase and timely release of funds to Research Institutes. • Support farmers by providing appropriate subsidy • Tackle general insecurity particularly on farmlands • Reduce food losses and wastages. Strand 2: Increasing availability and affordability of nutritious foods • Researchers to produce genetically improved hig... Read moreher yielding crop varieties and • High quality crops for enhanced nutrition • Reduce extension agent: farmer ratio to promote good agronomic practices (GAPs) • Efficiently organize value chain actors to produce and deliver wholesome and nutritious food. • Include agro-entrepreneurship in schools’ curriculum at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. • Incarcerated engagement in agriculture to produce more food; while empowering them upon release. • Production of commercial quantities of nutritious indigenous foods in easy to prepare, ready to use forms. • Proliferation of small, medium and large-scale equipment to reduce drudgery and upscale production. Strand 3: Ensuring safe food • Discourage use of chemicals. • Ensure enforcement of extant rules by relevant regulatory authorities as SON, NAFDAC, CPC etc. • Vigorous sensitization campaigns on food safety • Improve storage and transport facilities. • Encourage the planting of fruits to replace ornamental trees • Ensuring effective post-harvest crop handling What contribution will our organizations make? High-level organization is needed at the various stages of the value chain for the country to reap the benefits that abound in agriculture as significant contributor to GDP and means of youth employment and women empowerment. • Value chain actors identified, recognized and enabled to participate in agriculture transparently. • Organize and coordinate quality assurance by FMARD, NAFDAC, SON, CPC; Farmer associations and Commodity associations. How will it be possible to tell, If these Actions are successful? • Reduction and stability of food prices • Reduction in unemployment indices • Reduction in restiveness as majority are engaged in productive activity • Agro-dealers’ presence not more than 2km away from farm communities to enable farmers access quality inputs • Post-harvest loss reduced due to efficient storage system • Insurance scheme for farmers launched and functional • Use of improved technology to make agriculture attractive • Solar powered equipment for drying and for cold chain transportation functional • Storage facilities for farming communities within a 2-5km radius. • Efficient Transportation (rail and road) systems • System of quality assurance of agricultural produce beginning from farm to market in place • Linkage between all the agricultural value chain actor from production to marketing strengthened • Assurance of Halal content of food chain from farm to fork Cross-Cutting • Strengthen by legislature, link between Agriculture and Industry • Farmer education and awareness improvement • Link between agriculture and health (Food as medicine) • Food security and national security Read less

Group 2: Shift to Healthy and Sustainable Consumption Patterns Actions urgently needed • Create awareness, advocate for, and educate on safe and healthy food consumption • Farmers to embrace market-driven production to enhance income and purchasing power • Dry season farming to ensure all year-round availability • Revisit neglected and underutilised foods • Scale up school feeding programme • Promote integrated farming and backyard farming and work into primary and secondary school curriculum • Promote high yielding crop varieties • Strengthen linkages between research, policy,... Read more and practice • Improve rural infrastructure • Adaptation indigenous processing and storage methods, and explore modern technologies • Price control and regulation of activities of middlemen • Provide incentives for healthy consumption and production of healthy food by food and beverage companies • Use community-based extension volunteers for food demonstrations using locally sourced healthy foods • Identify other sources for agricultural financing • Strengthen farmer-groups and other rural associations for community development • Encourage contract farming with buy-back arrangements • Perfect recycling process for agricultural waste • Reposition and strengthen agricultural research institutes. • Create awareness and educate on dangers of unhealthy environment • Enforce existing regulation and sanction for environmental degradation • Regulate chemical use in all aspects of agricultural production • Intensify consumer protection activities Who should take the actions? • Religious and traditional leaders, opinion moulders, community leaders and the media will contribute to awareness creation and education on need for healthy food consumption and environmental sustainability • Ministries of Health and Environment will enforce regulations on environmental degradation • Agriculture research institutes with mandates for processing and storage will develop technologies for processing and storage • Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) will review and revise mandates of Research Institutes in line with current realities. • Regulatory agencies will enforce existing regulations to prevent the nefarious activities of some food and beverage companies • Federal and state Ministries of Agriculture, through the Agricultural Development Projects, will ensure prompt dissemination of information on safe and healthy food consumption, and on environmental sustainability. • The federal and states Ministries of Education will mainstream integrated and backyard farming into primary and secondary school curriculum. • Farmer groups, other rural associations and banking institutions will provide farm credit How will it be possible to tell if these actions are being successful? Ways in which progress could be assessed • Reduction in the current rates of malnutrition indices and related deaths • Reduction diet related illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, obesity etc. • Reduction in percentage annual food loss • Increase in demand for safe and healthy foods • Increase in production and utilisation of neglected and underutilised crops • Reduction in environmental degradation • Increased alternative uses of agricultural waste Read less

Group 3: Boosting Nature Positive Production at Scale i. Protection of Natural Ecosystems: • Promotion of Organic Farm Inputs • Improve extension services on Organic Farming and environmental protection • Control Bush Burning through stringent laws and awareness campaigns • Promotion of the Practices of Conservation Agriculture ii. Manage Sustainably Existing Food Production Systems: • Improve quality control on food safety and standardization • Promote the adoption of biological pest control • Develop new crop varieties to enhance farmers’ resilience to challenges of climate c... Read morehange • Incentivize Agriculture for the youth iii. Restore and Rehabilitate Degraded Ecosystems: • Restore wastelands such as desert encroached areas, salinity and erosion affected areas etc • Establish a Centre of Excellence for Regenerative Agriculture and restoration of ecosystems in one of the leading Universities of the country. What contributions will our organisations make? • Provide technical and financial support for Extension activities • Spear head awareness campaigns and consultations with both governmental and non-governmental institutions on sustainable food systems to improve policy focus and legislation. • Establish a Centre of Excellence for research on Regenerative and Conservation Agriculture How will it be possible to tell if these actions are being successful? • Improved adoption of Organic Inputs and sustainable practices in Agriculture by the farmers • Improved capacity of Extension Workers • Improved actionable research findings on conservation and regeneration of the ecosystem for sustainable agriculture • More policies and legislation on protection of the Agricultural Ecosystem enforced • More youth engaged in Agriculture How will it be possible to tell if these actions are being successful? • Increase in number of Improved adoption of Organic Inputs and sustainable practices in Agriculture by the farmers • Improved capacity of Extension Workers • Increase in number of Improved actionable research findings on conservation and regeneration of the ecosystem for sustainable agriculture • More policies and legislation on protection of the Agricultural Ecosystem enforced • More youth and women are engaged in Agriculture Read less

Group 4: Advancing Equitable Livelihoods and Value Chain distribution What actions in next 3 years will have greatest impact on the Discussion Topic? Actions urgently needed • There must be equitable opportunities for all through equal chances in production, ownership of resources and improved agricultural technology for women and youths. • Policy makers to provide roadmap for equitable distribution of production resources, which will ensure equitable access to resources. • The National Assembly to promote a bill on equitable access to resources for women and youths in Nigeria, which wil... Read morel be enforced in all parts of the country. • Continues advocacy by Agri-Food Industries, Farmer groups and Private organizations to traditional and religious leaders, and Social-Cultural organizations to abolish cultures and norms that discriminates access to resources by women and youths. • Strategies aimed at implementing existing gender policies in Nigeria should be put in place. • Private companies to work with public extension outfit to incorporate extension service as an after sales package. • Changing agricultural production system to accommodate youths for sustainability. • Mainstream nutrition into every agricultural programme and education system • System of production needs to be looked at. Simple and nutritious foods consumed like egusi and daddawa should be promoted to ensure sustainability. What contributions will our organisations make? i. Farmers and farmer groups • Work together to strengthen the value chain of all commodities to improve the food system thereby ensuring sustainability. • Continue the training and retraining of all stakeholders on best practices by farmer and private organisations to improve the food system. ii. Ministry of Agriculture • Plan and implement strategies that will promote the adoption of improved technology in production, postharvest and processing activities, value addition and reduction in food losses. • Ensure that all commodities are included in agricultural programmes being implemented by the Ministry. • Enhance irrigation systems to promote all year-round production of food. • Work with relevant organizations to make sure that quality and unadulterated inputs that meets standard requirements are used in producing healthy and safe food for all. iii. Ministry of Finance • Ensure allocation of resources to Ministry of Agriculture, Women affairs, research Institutes and financial institutions to develop the food system. iv. Non-Governmental and Private organizations • Provision of training and re-training on best agricultural practices and linkages with input suppliers, financial institutions, and off takers of output will put in place. How will it be possible to tell if these actions are being successful? • Increased productivity through acess to quality inputs and value addition, which translates to better income for women and youths • Access to climate smart technologies, structured markets and finance • Women and youths receive tailored training and capacity building to respond, recover and build resilience • Discriminating norms against women abolished and more women given leadership positions. Read less

Strand 1 - Economic Impact of Natural Disaster on vulnerable groups Participants identified many different impacts, including limited input supply and those related to movement restrictions affecting incomes, food distribution and purchasing and thus consumption. This may increase reliance on imported food and local expenditures. In order to allow farmers to make viable decisions about their investments more data needed, as who grows what, where, and what and soil information. Same situation for ocean data, including salinity and pH to identify which native fish species are effected and how th... Read moreis in turn affects the supply to communities that rely on it for food and livelihood. Involvement of women and youth in agriculture and fisheries farming is still low. In order to minimise economic impacts that affect exports and economy, some new technologies were discussed, as the use of a new app on Pacific Pest Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds and the use of drones for agriculture. A comprehensive view considering the whole value chain is needed, engaging the communities and aiming at moving from subsistence to commercial farming. Capacities of extension officers need to be strengthened, including environmental friendly practices and organic methods. Among main barriers limiting the economic resilience of the food system in Fiji were mentioned legislations and regulations (aquaculture policy is missing); lack of tailor-made disaster and climate resilience plans for specific communities; funding availability; lack of opportunities for female market vendors/farmers on trainings and capacity building in their villages/districts and limited facilities for storing and processing food locally. Strand 2 – Social Resilience (producing broad based benefits for all people) CV19 has put unprecedented stress on Fiji’s food systems disrupting livelihoods and threatening many people’s access to food and income. The informal settlements are particularly vulnerable because the majority lack social protection and have little or lost access to productive assets and health care. Low- and middle-income families could not afford high food costs (especially fruits, vegetables and root crops) after disaster, instead they use alternatives such as canned or frozen foods. This in turn reduces their access to healthy, safe and diverse diet thus increasing prevalence of malnutrition among vulnerable populations. Internal migration on social dynamics on rural & urban drift is a norm in Fiji however, CV19 has seen many people, especially the youth moving back to their villages due to loss of jobs. Barriers that limit greater social resilience in our food systems include lack of infrastructure, data and specialized capacity and stakeholders working in silos. Technical expertise and support in country particularly in information management on emerging vulnerabilities within existing vulnerable groups in communities. Strand 3 - Environmental Impact of Natural Disaster on vulnerable groups The discussion found that natural disasters have environmental impacts that affects agricultural production in terms of quantity and quality. Some examples mentioned included heavy rainfalls, sudden changes in temperature etc. that can severely affect water and soil, essential elements for crops and livestock. Fisheries are also affected, impacts on coral reefs, mangroves were specifically mentioned. Natural disasters combined with deforestation and poor land use practice are resulting in an increase in invasive species, more resilient than native ones, and thus affecting the productivity of the food system. Organic options are not so popular after a disaster as other quickest options that are not necessarily the best solution are prioritised. A good example of integrated farming, mixing agriculture and fisheries farming (an example of combining tilapia with ducks in Fiji where poultry birds provide for the fertilizing algae in the tilapia pond), was explained and recommended to be scaled up. Hydroponic agriculture in green houses was also discussed, highlighting the need for funding the high cost involved and capacity building. We need to be building management systems that are responsive and can adapt to change, and new shocks. The inadequate inclusion of women in the climate change/ building of resilience in the food systems space (including fisheries) was raised by some participants. Some barriers limiting greater environmental resilience in the food system were not enough focus on nature-based solutions that enhance environmental systems on which food systems depend; lack of understanding of soil and how to adapt crops to different soil types, a situation that deteriorate with the increase of natural disaster and chemicals being used; and scarce funding to better carry out the work needed and implement policies and strategies. Dissemination of information to farmers and fishers from the ministries and vice versa should be easier if they are registered under MOA and MOF. This would help with market information technical assistance, financing instruments and others. Read less

Strand 1 – Economic Impact of Natural Disaster on vulnerable groups Among the main transformations needed in the current food system were identified the establishment of digital spaces to improve market access through local and regional opportunities (marine species are high value commodities); the adoption of climate start technologies and genetically improved crops more resilient and tolerant; increase stakeholder engagement from a multi-sector perspective for both agriculture and fisheries and the use of agricultural mechanisms that consider traditional knowledge approaches to support Ear... Read morely Warning Systems EWS and reduce post-harvest lost. Participants alerted of a potential risk of genetic modification, which could affect our biodiversity or reduce the national flora genetic pool since they tend to be more adaptable. Strand 2 – Social Impact of Natural Disaster on vulnerable groups Government response is to ensure food security as well as nutrition and Ministry of Health is working with NDMO and local food industries to incorporate package nutrient foods in the food basket using local foods. The traditional ‘solesolevaki’ system should be encouraged especially with the recent migration of people back to rural areas. Educate and empower community health workers on food and nutrition knowledge. Invest on online/digital infrastructure by working with private sector which can assist in transporting local produce to markets. Empower women on locally food production and processing. Important to include women and youth in all solutions and provide resources to integrate such activities into Fiji’s ongoing employment and disaster mitigation and response plans and activities. Some organisations in the Private Sector that have empowered communities and women groups to add value to their Agriculture and Fisheries products. These communities have vulnerable people including women, those with disabilities and marginalised groups as well. We could learn a lot of lessons and best practices and see how we can replicate them at different levels and sections of our communities. Ensure all people have home gardens - supply seeds/seedlings to all households. At the community level engagement - iTaukei Affairs to have arrangements within villages for communal plantings collectively worked. Fiji need to progress the Fiji Policy on Food and Nutrition Security which is inclusive between government, academia, private sector, CSOs NGOs FBOs and community settings, to address some of these issues. Strand 3 - Environmental Impact of Natural Disaster on vulnerable groups Food System transformation should consider the Fijian traditional Crop and Fisheries calendar and adjusted it to the current circumstances. This would ensure all year round harvesting despite effects of disaster. Better land conservation practices and enhancing traditional varieties and knowledge together with the use of resilient crop varieties and livestock breeds were mentioned. After a disaster, traditional knowledge on processing may help to make people more resilient, but skills need to be strengthened. Climate smart practices and technologies need to be promoted and adopted, with more investment in soil improvement and conservation. If we keep it healthy, it will mean communities do not need to clear more land and deforestation will decrease. We need to ensure that women are part of the discussions, dialogue, and solutions. So better processes are needed for the inclusion of women, and other marginalized groups. Policies should aim to strengthen villages system, people lost their jobs and are coming back to the villages where better services (education & health, infrastructure and others) are needed. Information/Communication and digital tools can play a role here; linkages to markets, inputs etc. There is a need to look at food systems and disasters/shocks through an intersectional lens, as our responses will need to operate at that level. Need to re-focus food summit on people and emphasise collaboration between stakeholders. Read less

Strand 1 – Economic Impact of Natural Disaster on vulnerable groups Consumers need to have accessibility not only to food but income to purchase these foods. Increase in imported foods also relates to increase in local expenditure and people are not earning enough during COVID19 to be able to afford. Crop resilient tolerant and genetic improvement by MOA should also take into consideration that genetic modification shouldn't affect our biodiversity that is reduction in our floras genetic pool since they tend to be more adaptable due to their genetic diversity. Due to COVID19 if these newly i... Read morentroduced crops are not identified, it can establish and affect our crop production and also affect the export pathway that will have a major impact on the economy. Agricultural mechanisms to also take into consideration traditional knowledge approaches to reduce post-harvest lost. Strand 2 – Social Impact of Natural Disaster on vulnerable groups There is already a lot of food in Fiji since the rural populations grow food, the urban and peri urban areas depend on these rural supplies. Need to address how rural farmers can be supported to get their produce in a timely manner to the populations that can afford them. Intervention required is how to make it affordable without compromising affordability for anyone along the food system chain- from producer to consumer. Empower communities to reduce the idea on food/other dependency from government subsidies which may hinder exploring traditional practices. How can we support existing social protection systems to decrease these dependencies - perhaps improve our financial literacy at rural settings such as cash transfer strategy and other forms of assistance. Strand 3 - Environmental Impact of Natural Disaster on vulnerable groups Food security vs. system damaged that needs to recover; resilience needs to be built; systems already degraded and then facing shocks. Tension: people to adapt and understand the changing climate and ways of doing business. Read less

The Chairperson of AT5 briefly presented on the Fiji Food System Dialogue elaborating on what is expected from today’s discussion on AT5 before the floor was given to the presenters. Strand 1: Economic Impact of Natural Disaster on vulnerable groups (Climate Change Unit, Ministry of Economy) Almost half of those living below the poverty line rely on agriculture for at least part of their income, compared to a quarter of people above the poverty line. Around 64,500 Fiji households (37 percent) derive some form of income from agriculture, approximately 8 percent of GDP (2015 GDP). The climate ... Read morechange-related losses in agricultural productivity could lead to economic losses of 2–3 percent of Fiji’s GDP in the future. Natural disasters caused loss of lives and damages to infrastructure, livestock, and agriculture totally up to F$170 million, F$100 million and F$194.9 million, respectively. TC Winston destroyed crops on a large scale and compromised the livelihoods of almost 60 percent of Fiji’s population with damages amounting to F$2 billion, or 20 percent of GDP. Estimated F$14 million worth of investment is needed to climate proof Fiji’s agriculture sector from a total of F$9,272 million as estimated for a resilient Fijian economy. Climate Smart Agriculture which transforms and re-orientates agricultural systems to support food security. Disaster preparedness efforts and strengthening the resilience of farmers by encouraging the diversification of agricultural produce for subsistence consumption and market sales, improve financial literacy and collaborate with the private sector. Development of an affordable parametric and weather index-based climate risk insurance targeted at the agriculture, fisheries, retail and tourism sectors. Strand 2: Social Impact of Natural Disasters on vulnerable groups (Social Welfare, Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation) Some of the psychosocial impacts for vulnerable persons were mentioned as older persons more reluctant to leave home, suffering more chronic medical/psychiatric conditions and increase risk of abuse. Persons with physical/mental disabilities may not search for help because of stigma, abandoned by their families and open for verbal and physical abuse. Children may feel anxiety and distress, changes in school performance etc. Women may give birth in unsafe places, domestic violence, etc. Homeless - Limited capacity to find shelter, scarce support within the community, high prevalence of mental illness and physical illness etc. Possible solutions to these impacts are related to access to resources and protection against abuse and exploitation; medical and psychosocial interventions, education and support of care givers; ensure provision of basic and specific needs (young children, pregnant, lactating mothers, homeless people etc.) and safety, if necessary in separate facilities in Evacuation Centers. Strand 3: Environmental impact of Natural Disasters on vulnerable groups: (Ministry of Agriculture) Future climate predictions for Fiji include temperature will continue to increase with more very hot days, changing rainfall patterns, more extreme rainfall days, less frequent but more intense tropical cyclones, sea level will continue to rise. Climate change affect crop production since most crops are seasonal, affects pest outbreaks, limited diversity, crop yields (rice productivity declines 10% with every 1⁰ C increase in temperature), farm income and economy. In order to build a resilient agriculture system, the Ministry of Agriculture is working on policies, plans and strategies, plant breeding and crop improvement, strengthening gene pool conservation, promoting sustainable land management practices, introducing resilient crop varieties, collaboration with international/regional Institution, traditional varieties & knowledge, review package of practices, tissue culture lab and crop modelling for climate change. The Ministry promotes resilient traditional foods, multiplication and distribution of resilient crop varieties, more collaborative work between stakeholders, adopt improved sustainable farming practices that have been successful in Pacific and Asian. Read less

The focus of the dialogue was on building food systems back/forward better in the context of COVID-19 recovery. No country in the world in 2020 was spared the direct (health) and indirect (socio-economic) impacts of COVID-19; the impacts have amplified vulnerabilities including malnutrition and poverty, but also shed light on opportunities within the food system. Learnings from any crisis can be harnessed to improve systems and prepare for future shocks and stresses. Prior to the onset of COVID-19, Cambodia already suffered from high rates of malnutrition and poverty; one in three children are... Read more stunted (low height for age) and one in ten are wasted (low weight for height). Looking forward, what does recovery and building back better from COVID-19 mean for Cambodia’s food system? According to FAO’s Chief Economist Máximo Torero, "we need to link recovery plans with catalytic investments and investment with significant returns on reduction of undernourishment to achieve SDG 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger) and 10 (Reduced Inequalities)." So what are game changing solutions to ensure that the food system nourishes all, offers resilient livelihoods, and stewards the environment? This is the topic of today’s Food Systems Dialogue. Our task is now to prioritize and phase our support going forward. In the work leading up to the Global Food Systems Summit in September and the pre-summit in July, we have the opportunity to conduct a ‘health check’ on the food system. COVID-19 has simply accelerated the need for transformation. This dialogue is an opportunity to explore the actions and the levers for change that will be most likely lead recovery efforts in the direction of improving the food system. A simple tool to guide the discussion is the principle of triple wins: economic, social, and environmental. Game changing solutions touch upon all three of these and offer solutions to build upon the past to create a more prosperous future. Read less

Priorities for the food system to build back/forward better include ensuring a stronger foundation for the economy and building more resilient systems. It will be necessary to introduce reform measure to respond to compounding vulnerabilities and build these lessons learned into building stronger systems going forward. These include measures to soften impacts on businesses and encourage innovation, vertical and horizontal expansion of social assistance mechanisms, food flows and trade are facilitated, and health systems are more inclusive and prepared for other global threats like the rise of ... Read morenon-communicable diseases. Digitalization is a key avenue for building back better and for being better prepared for a similar situation in the future. Five key areas providing opportunities for game changing actions include: the promotion of healthy diets; community and value chain approaches to market strengthening in the food system; ongoing development of the social assistance framework to provide a safety net for the most vulnerable and soften future shocks; and ensuring better coordination of efforts between the humanitarian response phase and the ongoing development work. Read less

UN Commitments and Game Changers 1 and 2 The UN stands ready to continue its support to the Royal Government, the Socio-Economic Reponses Plan (SERP), and FAO remains committed to support a robust food system that is sustainable, inclusive and healthy and that is prepared to absorb future shocks and stresses. FAO in Cambodia has a broad portfolio that touches upon fisheries, climate smart agriculture, home grown school feeding, and policy assistance. FAO works closely with our UN partners under the umbrella of UN Nutrition – led by WFP, to coordinate our nutrition work. And lastly, the EU-FA... Read moreO FIRST policy facility remains a flagship program, supporting existing Government frameworks, strengthening partnerships and leveraging actions to address SDG 1 and 2. As a complement to RGC’s cash transfer programmes, FAO is working on “Cash+” interventions to combine cash transfers with the provision of productive assets, inputs, technical training and extension services. This approach is proving an effective tool in providing immediate relief for the livelihoods and productive capacities of the poor and most vulnerable households, while at the same time enhancing their medium and long-term productive capacity, increasing resilience. In 2020, FAO successfully piloted the approach to support 100 IDPoor and vulnerable households in Siem Reap. With funding support from SDC, FAO is scaling up this approach to support around 1500 economically vulnerable households in Siem Reap and Banteay Meanchey. This approach has also been taken up by other UN Partners. Game changers are not silver bullets but should improve livelihoods, food security and nutrition, and steward the environment. In other words, game changers offer triple wins. Game changers: 1. importance of healthy diets during pandemics and building back stronger A healthy diet is one that promotes human health, prevents disease, and protects the planet. A healthy diet is: sufficient and varied enough to provide the right amount of nutrients from foods; and safe and free from harmful substances. A healthy diet should also be affordable, culturally acceptable and sustainably produced. Why we need a healthy diet: Reason 1 – For a healthier population Reason 2 – To protect the most vulnerable Reason 3 – Because hidden hunger is common Reason 4 – For more resilient economies Reason 5 – for a healthier planet Reason 6 – To protect against COVID and other illnesses What can we do? Promote increased production and consumption of vegetables, legumes, fruits, and other healthy foods. Utilize community-based structures to promote healthy diets and improved food production. Expand Social Protection programming to increase access to affordable, healthy diets. Strengthen investment in NCD prevention and treatment through the health system. Explore regulatory, labeling, and taxation approaches to reduce consumption of unhealthy foods. Work with food industry to support efforts to improve agricultural biodiversity. Increase the use of data in analysis, policy and decision-making and improve the availability of data. Game changers: 2. The social protection system and building back better Social assistance programs have quickly adapted to address the COVID-19 situation; school meals have shifted to take-home rations and new programs have been added including cash transfers for ID poor, food assistance, and one-off cash transfers and subsidies for COVID-19-impacted families. The way forward, to Build Back Better as we move beyond response and recovery from COVID-19, will involve: Shock-Responsive Social Protection Framework Provide more systematic, predictable, timely and effective protection of the poor and vulnerable, to mitigate and adapt to shocks and stresses. GS-NSPC is currently developing a Shock responsive Social Protection mechanisms with assistance from WFP. Family Package Integration of cash-based social assistance programs, introducing social assistance single operator supported by an effective management information system. Read less

Game changers: 3. Community and value chain development to nourish consumers and offer resilient livelihoods: Build a more resilient agriculture sector with risk informed and more connected and inclusive value chains. Increase investment in collective action such as smallholder farmer’s cooperatives and infrastructure, which could include community markets, hygiene stations, processing and cooling facilities. Promote equitable distribution of incomes and access to inputs, finances, technologies and markets. Work together in full partnership sharing gains and risks (4P Model) Set up a direct-... Read moreto-consumer delivery system, using short circuits / localized solutions Invest in Women smallholder farmers Build more resilient communities (and not only resilient farmers Themes for promoting value chain integration in Cambodia include a focus on poultry, vegetables, fish, beef cattle, cassava and cashew nut value chains; logistics, market infrastructure and transport; applications for technology in value chains (e.g. cold storage and cool chains); farmer-owned agribusinesses; climate smart agriculture and NRM; one health and zoonoses; skills development and employment especially for women and youth; nutrition and food security; and agri-business recovery plans and assistance. Now more than ever, ending poverty in Cambodia begins with agriculture. The food system of the future should be resilient and equitable. It should be equitable and inclusive at every link of the chain, particularly the weakest ones, and respectful of the environment. Game changers: 4 Bridging the humanitarian-development divide Despite being considered an emergency, COVID-19 underlines major chronic issues that require bridging the humanitarian-development gap. Bridging the gap requires consideration of the following points as we move from humanitarian response to developing stronger systems for the future: While the initial reaction may be to protect and restrict, food systems need to be kept open to remain robust. COVID-19 underlines yet again that healthy diets are the first line of defense against disease. Poverty weakens our ability to bounce back. Compounding vulnerabilities beg for joint targeting. Systemic change required to prepare for future shocks and stresses: e.g. shock responsive social protection. Information needed to make decisions in real time and to prevent future ‘disruptions’ and mitigate impacts. As Cambodia prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country Status, need to prioritize measures to respond to urgency of the present with needs of the future; the six key topics of the Second NSFSN (2019-2023) offer this framework to accelerate action. These priorities help us to identify ‘best bets for building back better’, placing the consumer at the center of our work and ensuring that systems are strengthened and the environment is stewarded. Read less

The main objective of the first meeting was to reach a common understanding among the participated stakeholders on the following areas: (i) the 2021 UN Food System Summit, (ii) the national dialogue process and (iii) the “sustainable food systems approach”. By bringing together key stakeholders contributing to the food systems of Azerbaijan, the Dialogue has become a starting point for an inclusive and collaborative exchange of views on the path to sustainable national food system; as well as for identifying challenges and sharing best practices for improving food systems and ensuring thei... Read morer sustainability in the future. The major focus of the dialogue meeting are: • To provide information to the participants on the importance of dialogue meetings held in preparation for the UN 2021 Food Systems Summit to be held in September this year. In this regard, materials on the topic (also relevant guidelines) were introduced to the participants by both local and international representatives. • Providing participants with general information on food systems. Also, participants were provided with information on sustainability in food systems within the SDG 2030 Agenda, as well as the transformation of food systems to achieve sustainability. • Expected results from the national dialogues carried out by the member countries within the framework of the Food Systems Summit. Some of the participants of the Dialogue raised questions about the expected results of these dialogues, and representatives of relevant governmental bodies answered these questions. • Discussion of issues related to the role of women in the establishment and operation of sustainable food systems in the country, especially in rural areas. Discussions focused on the role of women, including rural women, in agricultural and food production, and agreed that appropriate measures should be taken to assess the role of women and achieve gender equality in these activities. • The discussions also centered on the question of what measures should be taken towards transitioning to nature-positive sustainable production practices. Participants generally agreed on the need for improving monitoring and control systems for the use of agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides to ensure sustainable food production systems; and the possibility of introducing additional measures for incentivizing and subsidizing natural farming (for example, payments for ecosystem services) instead of chemically intensive agriculture. Read less

Main findings can be summarised as follows: • Some participants stated that there is a need for new approach in terms of ensuring sustainability in agriculture. Currently, the main role in the digitalization of agriculture in Azerbaijan belongs to the state, there is a need to expand the role of the private sector, the system of agricultural subsidies should include issues related to sustainability (for example, climate-smart subsidies), as well as, expand the use of biotechnology. In this regard, the representative of the Ministry of Agriculture accepted the need for improvement measures in... Read more these areas and noted that the issue will be discussed. • The dialogue was welcomed by the participants in terms of achieving the sustainability goals. It was recommended to achieve consistency in the organization of such meetings, at the same time, the participants expressed their readiness to cooperate in this direction. • It was suggested that the Center for Agrarian Research under the Ministry of Agriculture be identified as a coordinating body in terms of coordinating dialogue discussions. • It was decided to have discussions on conducting a Rural Women's Forum to educate women on the sustainability of food systems and raise awareness campaigns. • Although farmers who receive subsidies are registered by the state, there is no registration of farmers who have small arable land and produce mainly for their own consumption – namely so-called subsistence farmers. The representative of the Ministry of Agriculture stated the urgency of this issue and said that discussions would be held to take appropriate measures. • In comparison to the previous periods, the urgency of food systems including the food security issues in the country is fully recognised. Although a superficial approach to food security issues was demonstrated during the development of the Strategic Roadmap for Agricultural Production and Processing, representatives of both governmental and non-governmental organizations have now acknowledged the urgency of this issue and have expanded included activities related inclusion of food security issues in state strategic documents. Read less

Resilience and sustainability were two important keywords that initiated the discussions. Participants emphasized that the COVID-19 pandemic and the escalation of the conflict situation in the country have caused the need to accelerate the transformation of food and agricultural systems to make them more resilient in the face of potential challenges and stresses, including climate change. There was a consensus among the participants that there is a need to introduce new measures and strategies in the “Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio-Economic Development”. Discussants also sh... Read moreared some pilot ideas such as: (i) strengthening business development services in rural areas with a focus on promoting agricultural technology start-ups; (ii) strengthening digital extension services to help farmers easily adapt to systems transformation; (iii) stimulating climate-smart agriculture through the introduction of agriculture-specific input subsidy programs and policies; (iv) introducing innovative agricultural practices and green biotechnologies; (v) and promoting the use of sustainable food production and climate resilient farming practices. Participants raised the key challenges and proposed solutions for ensuring access to safe and nutritious food for all. Actions were discussed in three broad areas: (i) improving access to nutritious foods for subsistent farmers as well as vulnerable groups such as IDPs and people living in remote rural areas, with a particular focus on women and children; (ii) the importance of enhancing the role of women in rural and agricultural areas through the promotion of women's entrepreneurship; and (iv) the need for enhancing of national food safety systems; as well as raising awareness on food security and nutrition concepts. The discussions also centered on the question of what measures should be taken towards transitioning to nature-positive sustainable production practices. Participants generally agreed on the need for improving monitoring and control systems for the use of agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides to ensure sustainable food production systems; and the possibility of introducing additional measures for incentivizing and subsidizing natural farming (for example, payments for ecosystem services) instead of chemically intensive agriculture. Participants conveyed the need to emphasize, promote, replicate, and scale up existing models that increase women's role in the food systems, as well as generate livelihood opportunities to attract more rural women to the sector. Discussants highlighted the critical importance of empowering women in the agricultural sector by improving their access to extension and business support services. The idea of organizing a forum of rural women at the country level was also proposed to demonstrate the key role that rural women play in food production and security. The need to strengthen digital agriculture was also underlined, with a focus on improving access to agricultural and rural data such as the agri-food supply chain and its stock levels as well as data on landless farmers who therefore cannot register in the electronic agricultural information system. Read less

During the meeting, several disagreements were observed that are summarised below: • Representatives of the non-governmental institution reported that rural women are unaware of sustainable food systems and sustainable development goals in general as well as government adopted support measures directed to the woman entrepreneurs who are producing food. Government officials as well as FAO Azerbaijan office mentioned that they have conducted several projects directed to improve live of rural woman who are engaged in agricultural production and are part of the food system. It was recommended to... Read more take concrete steps to define the role of women's entrepreneurship in the formation of sustainable food systems. • Another interesting opinion stated during the meeting were related to production of health food. It was mentioned that there is an abundance of food products in the market, but insufficient attention is paid to the impact of products on human health, as well as weak control over the use of pesticides. While acknowledging the existence of problems and the need to take appropriate measures to improve the situation, government officials have already noted that the government has already taken steps to establish a mechanism for initial control over the use of pesticides (Electronic Agricultural Information System - EKTIS). • One of the main stakeholders raised his concern regarding to the unified translation of food into Azerbaijani language in order to avoid disagreements and misunderstandings. Read less

In this dialogue, we discussed challenges and opportunities especially related to Action Track 3.

The meeting with the Japan Business Federation Committee on Agriculture was held to exchange opinions related to SDGs and sustainable food systems. The main remarks of the participants are as follows: -The Government of Japan expressed carbon neutralization by 2050 and I hope how to reduce carbon emission by 41.1 billion tons will be discussed at the summit. -In the industry of agricultural pesticides, while we continue to work on developing safer and more eco-friendly pesticides, we also need materials for biological pesticides and natural-derived ones to complement chemical ones and, therefo... Read morere, we would like the government to consider policies to promote the development of such materials. - For making Japanese agriculture an export industry, besides enhancement of productivity through digital transformation, capture of demand-side changes, response to international trends such as carbon neutral or economic security, individual issues have been identified including acquisition of certification, quarantine consultation with the other country and protection of intellectual property. Whereas expanding exports of agricultural produces is one of the pillars to make Japanese agriculture a growth industry, it is also an important theme in terms of attracting young people. - Since environmental changes around domestic and foreign agriculture has been getting dynamic recently, exchange of opinions between private sector and administrative organizations is meaningful. Read less

In this dialogue, we discussed challenges and opportunities especially related to Action Track 2 and 3.