The Food andAgriculture Organisation (FAO) has reiterated determination that the zero
hunger by 2030 is still very possible, reports NaijaAgroNet.
Although the prevalence of hunger has increased in some
parts of the region, the 2030 goal is still within reach. But more investment
will be needed to improve food systems across the region, a call also repeated
at the opening of the regional symposium.
"Good nutrition depends on raising awareness about
healthy foods and choices, as well as efficient, affordable and sustainable
systems to deliver that food," said Kundhavi Kadiresan, FAO Assistant
Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific. "If
we are to reach the Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger in this region,
we must invest to improve our food systems and pool our knowledge and resources
to meet our current food and nutrition challenges head on."
The symposium is an integral component of the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition 2016-2025, which
seeks to increase investments and actions to improve people's diets and
nutrition. Recent innovations and the latest research in nutrition and food
systems from this region, as well as the rest of the world, are being examined
over two days.
The aim is to discuss concrete actions that result in higher
quality and more efficient production, processing and distribution of food, in
addition to healthy and sustainable diets. In order to achieve those goals,
participants will work toward activating regional and global partnerships and
networks that promote nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
The Asia-Pacific forum is one of five regional symposia that
are taking forward the outcomes of the International Symposium on Sustainable
Food Systems and Healthy Diets held last December in Rome.
Isaac Oyimah/GEE
... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology