On World Food Day, we must acknowledge the challenges facing our global food system. The climate crisis and ongoing conflicts are affecting agriculture, leading to supply disruptions and price fluctuations. For example, severe flooding in Pakistan caused a drop in rice production, leading to higher prices worldwide.
Conflicts in regions like Ukraine and Gaza worsen the situation by displacing people and disrupting economies. The Global Report on Food Crises reveals that 258 million people faced severe food shortages in 2022.
UNDP advocates for transforming food systems through governance reforms, addressing unsustainable factors, building fair food value chains, and providing sustainable finance. Collaboration among stakeholders is crucial to strengthen food systems for resilience and sustainability.
On this World Food Day, let’s remember the Right to Food and work towards collaborative, sustainable, inclusive, and resilient food systems that benefit people and the planet.
Written by Francine Pickup, UNDP’s Deputy Director of the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support.
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