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FAO Calls For More Investment In Small Scale Farming In Haiti

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The community of Les Cayes was destroyed when the 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti last August (Photo via UN News

(United Nations News) Around 980,000 Haitians in the four districts most affected by the August 14 earthquake are now living with acute food insecurity, according to new UN food security data released on Thursday.

Following the release of its findings, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization of (FAO) urgently called for more investment to help rural Haitians go back to small-scale farming and avoid a worsening of the food crisis.

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and has long been vulnerable on multiple fronts.

Last month’s earthquake destroyed markets, roads, storage and processing facilities, dairies, and irrigation systems. Tropical Storm Grace, which hit days after the seismic event, caused additional damage.

FAO Representative in the country, Jose Luis Fernandez, said that “on top of a succession of disasters and crises, this latest double whammy has left people’s ability to produce and to access food for their families and communities, in tatters.”

Guyana Agriculture Minister says strengthening linkages between agri-food, tourism, health sectors among actions necessary to reposition Caribbean agriculture

agriculture, Food Security, Food Systems, News agriculture, Caribbean food systems, food and nutrition security, food systems, Zulfikar Mustapha

Agriculture Minister of Guyana, Mr. Zulfikar Mustapha

(Department of Public Information) Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said for agriculture to be effectively repositioned in the Caribbean, a number of actions must be taken.

The Minister was at the time addressing the Conference of Ministers of Agriculture of the Americas 2021 which was hosted by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).

The two-day conference saw Ministers of Agriculture from across the region meeting to discuss matters relating to improving agriculture relations across the Caribbean.

While presenting on behalf of the Caribbean region, Minister Mustapha said several actions must be taken to reposition agriculture in the Americas.

“Actions to reposition Caribbean agriculture must include strengthening linkages between the agri-food, tourism and health sectors, establishing public-private partnerships in local food production and processing, implementing climate-smart technologies, and transitioning towards digital agriculture. Therefore, financing for mitigation and adaptation to climate change is more critical today than ever before and is necessary to protect and transform Caribbean food systems,” Minister Mustapha said.

Minister Mustapha also said support from international institutions such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the World Food Programme (WFP), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), international financial institutions, and bilateral partners will be critical to ensuring a more resilient agricultural sector and that an immediate priority for the Caribbean is the creation of a vulnerability fund.

Read more at: Department of Public Information

IICA looks forward to Caribbean Week of Agriculture

agriculture, Climate change, Food Security, Food Systems, News #CWA2021, African Swine Fever, agriculture, climate resilience, CWA, IICA, Lloyd Day, SPS

The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) recognises the importance of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) as the leading event on the region’s agricultural calendar and welcomes the opportunities the event presents to create strategic partnerships.

As preparations heighten for the hosting of the event 4 – 8 October 2021, under the theme ‘Transforming our Food Systems’, IICA Deputy Director, Mr. Lloyd Day highlighted the role his organization is playing in the virtual event. The organisation, which conceptualised the CWA and has been a key partner from its inception in 1999 is providing logistical, financial and technical support. In addition, IICA will host a number of webinars, for example, on African Swine Fever, sanitary and phyto-sanitary compliance and climate resilience.

Listen as Mr. Day talks about the importance of the week of activities:

Jamaica Gov’t Working To Transform Country’s Food Systems

agriculture, Food Security, Food Systems, News, Uncategorized agriculture, Floyd Green, food security in Jamaica, food systems

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Floyd Green (Photo via Jamaica Information Service)

(Jamaica Information Service Press Release) Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Floyd Green, says the Ministry will continue to partner with local and international stakeholders to transform Jamaica’s food systems in order to ensure food security.

“We are serious at the Ministry in working with our European Union (EU) and United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) partners and across sectors and the Government, to ensure that we reimagine agriculture and fisheries, that we reshape our food systems to make them more sustainable, more equitable, more inclusive especially for our youth and women, more resilient against environment challenges, and more efficient in developing value chains, which can maximise the returns to our rural families and truly transform rural communities,” he said.

Minister Green was addressing Tuesday’s (September 7) opening ceremony for the virtual workshop on ‘Catalysing the Sustainable and Inclusive Transformation of Food Systems’ in Jamaica.

The food system incorporates all processes and infrastructure involved in feeding a population from growing to harvesting, processing, packaging, transporting, marketing, consumption, distribution and disposal of food and food-related items.

Read more at: Jamaica Information Service

PAHO, IICA To Support Food Safety, Food Security, And One Health Projects In The Americas

agriculture, Food Security, Food Systems, News, Sustainable Development Goals agri-food systems, agriculture, antimicrobial resistance, food health, food safety programmes, IICA, PAHO, zoonotic diseases

*The agreement was signed by Carissa Etienne (l), PAHO Director, and Manuel Otero, Director General of IICA.*

(Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture Press Release) The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) will work together to support the countries of the Americas in improving the health and prosperity of rural areas, thereby benefiting the region’s economies.

Priority work areas include One Health and management mechanisms related to food safety programs, antimicrobial resistance and zoonotic diseases.

The agreement was signed by Carissa Etienne, PAHO Director, and Manuel Otero, Director General of IICA.

“We signed this agreement to work together against hunger and disease, to safeguard the health and well-being of the people of the Americas. The current times demand our best efforts to ensure the countries stay committed to their development agendas and address the problems threatening health and agriculture”, stated Etienne.

“The One Health policy guides the countries in the actions they must take based on the experience of the actors involved. We’re convinced that we can navigate these challenges only if the health and agriculture sectors work together”, she added.

Manuel Otero expressed that joining forces is essential to tackle the current challenges. He explained that the topic will be discussed on 1-2 September in the framework of the Conference of Ministers of Agriculture of the Americas 2021 organized by IICA, at which they will analyse the environmental, social and economic challenges facing the in anticipation of the UN Summit.

“We are going to decide on concrete actions for the many issues we have in common. Both of our institutions work for the well-being of the people: the PAHO from a health standpoint and us from agricultural and rural development, under the philosophy of health focused on animal, environmental and human health”, stated Otero.

In 1983, PAHO and IICA signed a permanent general cooperation agreement that has been updated several times in last 19 years based on the challenges and concerns shared by the agencies.

The common objectives are to contribute to increasing and improving production, health and rural life in the member states of both entities within the Inter-American System.

Following the most recent renewal of the alliance, actions will be aimed at promoting implementation of a culture of effective policies, regulations and programs on food health in the countries of the Americas, including Codex Alimentarius, and exchanging information and experiences on food-related risk analysis.

More information:
Institutional Communication Division.
comunicacion.institucional@iica.int

These “Island Growers” are Reducing Imports, Improving Regional Access to Affordable Fresh Food

Food Security, Food Systems, News, Sustainable Development Goals 100% climate resilient greenhouse systems., agriculture, COVID-19, food quality, Food sustainability, natural disasters, OECS Sustainable Development Movement Summit 2021, organic farming

(Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Press Room) Food sustainability in the Caribbean has been a hot topic for years. While many islands in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) have varying degrees of agricultural production, hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters continue to threaten their sustainability and reliable production of affordable fresh produce. Over the past few months, as COVID-19 has shifted the global landscape, the cost of agricultural produce in the Caribbean has become increasingly unstable.

The OECS Sustainable Development Movement Summit 2021 is a platform for, among other things, conversations surrounding regional sustainable development across all sectors, including agriculture, and in recent times, the innovative work of Alquimi Renewables, LLC (“Alquimi”) and its farming operations group, Island Growers Caribbean© (“IGC”), have joined that conversation.

The teams at Alquimi and IGC are implementing a unique business model to radically improve and protect how fresh produce is grown in the Region. This model focuses on producing imported ‘cold weather’ crops in proprietary, climate smart hydroponic greenhouse farms. IGC intends to improve food quality, use organic farming practices, and ensure a consistent supply of produce to regional markets throughout the year by the use of these newly developed, 100% climate resilient greenhouse systems.

Caribbean Week of Agriculture 2021 promises to be unique, game-changing

agriculture, COVID-19, Food Security, Food Systems, News, Uncategorized agriculture, Caribbean Week of Agriculture, CWA, food, Shaun Baugh

Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) scheduled for 4-8 October, promises to be a unique, game-changing event, according to Shaun Baugh, Programme Manager, Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Development at the CARICOM Secretariat.

‘Transforming our food systems’ is the theme of the week of activities that reflects the food systems thrust that the world is now undertaking, given the current challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. Baugh, who is the coordinator of the event, is warning that if we are not careful, we run the risk of moving from a health crisis to a food security crisis. To stave off such an eventuality, some of the activities of the CWA will focus on new ways of propagation, the use of climate smart technologies, new irrigation methods, and a showcase of the use and versatility of the Region’s foods.

The main collaborating agencies for the event are the CARICOM Secretariat, the Inter-American Agency for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Regional institution such as the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism CRFM) and the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA) will also be involved.

FAO spearheads gender mainstreaming to boost region’s response to climate change in agri-food systems

agriculture, Climate change, Food Systems, Sustainable Development Goals, Uncategorized agriculture, climate change

**Mathelida Weeks (l) and Laura Jane received pineapple seedlings at a workshop for the Ti Colon/Barre St Joseph Women’s group center in rural Castries, Saint Lucia. (Photo via FAO)**

(Food and Agriculture Organization Press Release) The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Global Affairs Canada, recently hosted a webinar aimed at sensitising practitioners in the Caribbean on gender mainstreaming methodologies and good practices that can be used to strengthen the region’s response to the effects of climate change on agri-food systems.

The seminar attracted nearly 500 participants comprising government representatives and practitioners from CARICOM member states who are involved in programme and project development and implementation, as well as individuals from the private sector and civil society.

Across the globe we have witnessed the impacts caused by climate change through irregular rainfall patterns, increased temperatures, greater number and intensity of hurricanes and the rise in sea level. The Caribbean, due to its geographical location and the unique issues facing its many Small Island Developing States (SIDS), has experienced significant loss and damage from climate-related disasters.

Existing gender gaps, such as unequal access to resources, training and information, contribute to men and women experiencing climate change effects differently. In addition, gender-blind approaches of policies and programmes to address climate change can further exacerbate negative impacts and added burdens, particularly for the most vulnerable women and men. It is therefore critical that personnel involved in designing and implementing programmes and projects understand and identify existing gender gaps, as well as the associated risks and differentiated impacts of climate change on women and men to set in motion more equitable solutions.

It is with this background that Global Affairs Canada, CARICOM and FAO recently planned and hosted a gender mainstreaming webinar in the context of the project Cooperation for Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience in the Caribbean, which aims to promote climate change adaptation in agri-food systems (crops, livestock, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture) and to build the resilience of rural populations and their livelihoods in the sub-region.

This webinar aimed to spur action by sharing projects with strategies that seek equality between men and women through climate-resilient interventions in agri-food systems in the Caribbean. The lessons learnt, tools and best practices in gender mainstreaming approaches from these examples may be adapted and replicated by other countries in the region to expand their individual gender mainstreaming efforts in climate change interventions.

Renata Clarke, Sub-Regional Coordinator at FAO, explained that in the Caribbean rural economy, where agriculture is a key contributor to livelihoods, important gender gaps are still prevalent. For example, in Grenada only 22 percent of registered farmers are women, while the share in Jamaica is 30 percent. The gender gap widens in agricultural jobs with the female share ranging from only 6 percent in Belize, to 24.5 percent in Trinidad and Tobago.

“Women also face several gender-based inequalities to transition from subsistence farming to commercial agricultural production, such as insufficient access to land, financial capital, technology and market information. FAO is committed to working in the Caribbean region to innovate in agriculture and transform practices to meet climate change challenges in a gender equitable manner”, Clarke stated.

Meanwhile, Shaun Baugh, Programme Manager for CARICOM, stressed that climate change and gender mainstreaming are two cross-cutting issues that are prominent in every single initiative undertaken by CARICOM.

“It is important that the policies put forward assist in bridging or reducing the gaps that exist between women and men so that the livelihoods of our women are protected and enhanced and not affected by climate change”, said Baugh.

Christian DaSilva, Senior Acting Director at the Canada Caribbean Regional Development Program, stated that gender equality and empowerment of women and girls is the best way to eradicate poverty. “Canada is committed to helping build a more prosperous and climate resilient Caribbean community”, DaSilva indicated.

The Cooperation for Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience in the Caribbean project supports nine countries in the region (Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines, and Suriname) in strengthening their institutional capacity around climate resilience and disaster risk management through training and technical assistance and enhanced access to climate finance. Climate-smart digital technologies and gender mainstreaming in the project cycle are a particular project focus. This has resulted in 141 representatives learning how to integrate gender dimensions in the adoption and use of digital technologies, as well as being able to identify climate-smart agriculture digital technologies and tools that can be adopted at country and institutional levels, such as the FAO Gender Toolkit.

For more information:

Jacinto Buenfil

Policy Officer Environment and Climate Change

FAO Subregional Office for the Caribbean

E-mail: Jacinto.Buenfil@fao.org

Marquita Sugrim

FAO National Communications Consultant

FAO Subregional Office for the Caribbean E-mail: marquitajuanne.sugrim@fao.org

‘Food availability, access, utilisation and stability must be addressed’ – Minister Mustapha tells Food Systems Forum

Climate change, Food Security, Food Systems, News, Sustainable Development Goals, Uncategorized agriculture, Caribbean food systems, Caribbean Week of Agriculture, climate change, food and nutrition security, food security, food systems, Pre-Summit for the United Nations Food Systems Summit, tourism, United Nations Food Systems Summit, Zulfikar Mustapha

**Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha during the UN Pre-Summit (Photo via DPI)**

The current food system makes ‘ultra-processed’ foods readily accessible, appealing and affordable, displacing more nutritious foods. Expanding the non-traditional agricultural sub-sector is therefore, critical for diet diversification and enabling equality in availability and access, especially for rural populations.” – Minister of Agriculture of Guyana, Zulfikar Mustapha

(Department of Public Information Press Release) Guyana’s Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, MP, says in order for countries to ensure safe and nutritious foods remain accessible, food availability, access, utilisation, and stability must be addressed holistically.

The Minister made this statement on Wednesday when he joined Ministers of Agriculture and other officials from around the world in a Pre-Summit for the United Nations Food Systems Summit.

Over 50 countries participated in the Pre-Summit, which was held virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In his remarks, Minister Mustapha said: “The current food system makes ‘ultra-processed’ foods readily accessible, appealing and affordable, displacing more nutritious foods. Expanding the non-traditional agricultural sub-sector is therefore, critical for diet diversification and enabling equality in availability and access, especially for rural populations.

Further, of growing concern is the need to reduce on-farm and post-harvest food loss and waste through adopting appropriate harvesting, post-harvest, and storage technologies.”

Following the onset of the pandemic, greater emphasis has been placed on building Guyana’s resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks, and stresses. Minister Mustapha told the meeting that systems are being put in place to confront those threats, safeguarding the livelihood of farmers and fishers in the country.

“COVID 19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerability of our food production and distribution systems and exacerbated other challenges such as climate change.

Guyana must confront these threats to the livelihood of farmers and fishers by making its food systems more climate-resilient,” Minister Mustapha said.

CARICOM’s Position

Guyana holds lead responsibility for Agriculture, Agricultural Diversification, and Food Security in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

The Caribbean Region is amongst the most vulnerable to natural disasters and climate change impacts and has been identified as the second most hazard-prone Region in the world.

Just recently, economies and food systems were impacted by the eruption of a volcano in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, affecting Barbados and other neighbouring islands. Hurricanes left wind and flood damage in Barbados and other islands in the Eastern Caribbean, and Guyana and Suriname experienced unprecedented flooding that resulted in tremendous loss of crops and livestock.

“Actions to reposition Caribbean agriculture include strengthening linkages between the agri-food, tourism, and health sectors; establishing public-private partnerships in local food production and processing; implementing climate-smart technologies and transitioning towards digital agriculture.

Financing for mitigation and adaptation to climate change has become more critical today than ever before and is necessary to protect and transform Caribbean food systems. International support from international financial institutions, and bilateral partners will be critical to ensuring a more resilient agricultural sector through financing, technology, and creating an enabling global environment,” Minister Mustapha said.

The Pre-Summit of the UN Food Systems Summit has served as the preparatory meeting for the culminating global event which is scheduled for September 2021. It aims to bring together diverse actors from around the world to leverage the power of food systems to deliver progress on all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the shared vision for people, planet, and prosperity.

It will consolidate all of the substantive work of the Summit into a common vision and set a tone of bold ambition and commitment to action. The Pre-Summit will deliver the latest evidence based and scientific approaches from around the world; strengthen coalitions of action; and mobilise new financing and partnerships. Through the Pre-Summit, the UN Food Systems Summit will reaffirm its commitment to promote human rights for all and ensure everyone, everywhere has the opportunity to participate. The event is open to all, with a small in-person component in the context of COVID-19, complemented by a vast virtual programme and platform.

World faces historic task to turn tide on ending hunger, poverty, achieving other SDGs- FAO DG

Food Security, Food Systems, News agriculture, food security, food systems, hunger, poverty, SDGs, sustainable development goals

FAO Director-General QU Dongyu addressing the Pre-Summit opening ceremony. Seated in the front row (l-r) Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed,International Fund for Agricultural Development President Gilbert Houngbo,World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director David Beasley. (Photo via FAO)

The FAO Director-General stressed how at this “critical moment in time” the world faces “the historic task” to transform the agri-food systems and put back on track the achievement of the SDGs.

(Food and Agriculture Organisation Press Release 26 July 2021, Rome) – A holistic and coordinated approach is urgently needed to transform agri-food systems and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. This was the call made by the QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to world leaders participating in the opening today of the Pre-Summit of the UN Food Systems Summit.

“Our agri-food systems are not delivering properly, and in many parts of the world these systems were not efficient, inclusive and sustainable,” Qu said, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated the situation.

According to a report issued this month by FAO and its partners, around a tenth of the global population – up to 811 million people – were undernourished last year. The number suggests it will take a tremendous effort for the world to honour its pledge to end hunger by 2030.

The FAO Director-General stressed how at this “critical moment in time” the world faces “the historic task” to transform the agri-food systems and put back on track the achievement of the SDGs.

“To achieve this ambitious transformation; we need to change policies, mind-sets, and business models,” he told participants at the Pre-Summit opening ceremony that saw the participation of dozens of heads of state and government, ministers and other high-level representatives, some present in person while others connected by video.

Speakers included Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, – the UN and the Government of Italy are the Pre-Summit co-hosts – the President of Rwanda and Chair of the African Union Development Agency Paul Kagame and, representing Pope Francis, Archbishop Paul Gallagher the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States.