Key issues raised at the IFIAD 2021 Annual Conference
Some of the key issues that were raised at the IFIAD 2021 Annual Conference included the fact that global hunger increased with the Covid-19 Pandemic where up to 811 million people dealt with hunger in 2020. The world has also not been on track to achieve the global targets of nutrition. The issue of trust arose here with governments not doing their part in trying to achieve these goals.
Changes in climate hinder global agricultural productivity. The changes in precipitation and temperature can lead to increased risk of drought. Drought risks mean that food prices are likely to increase.
Areas of polarisation and lack of consensus identified at the IFIAD 2021 Annual Conference
The concept of taking a country-centric approach is an area without consensus because countries tend to shy away from political issues and governments prefer to take easier routes.
There is also a lack of consensus revolving around food and diets and what is needed for sustainable living. Food is a personal choice; it is a complex and cultural phenomenon and there tends to be a lot of traditions and rituals revolving around food.
The plant-based diet is presented to us as the healthy, nutritious, and environmentally beneficial diet, whereas junk food is portrayed as a bad and harmful substance for our bodies and for the planet. Dietary transitions can be viewed as complex concepts here.
Key issues for the Food Systems Summit and COP26 that were not discussed at the the IFIAD 2021 Annual Conference
While it was recognised at the conference that it is essential to listen to youths, inequality in relation to future generations could have been further addressed.
Additional funding should be administered to climate change by governments.
Overall, there is a lack of agricultural knowledge; the population needs to be more informed on agriculture’s impact on climate change.
References
GOAL Global. 2021. GOAL View: UN Food Systems Summit highlighted how connected the global food system is to many critical issues. – GOAL Global. [online] Available at: <https://www.goalglobal.org/stories/food-systems-summit-highlighted-how-connected-global-food-system-is-to-many-issues/> [Accessed 25 October 2021].
DSA Ireland. 2021. IFIAD Annual Conference 2020: Covid-19 and Sustainable Food Systems | DSA Ireland. [online] Available at: <https://www.dsaireland.org/updates/events/ifiad-annual-conference-2020-covid-19-and-sustainable-food-s/> [Accessed 25 October 2021].
Artnet News. 2021. Norman Rockwell’s Turkey Feast Is a Thanksgiving Touchstone—Here Are 3 Things You Might Not Know About ‘Freedom From Want’. [online] Available at: <https://news.artnet.com/art-world/norman-rockwell-thanksgiving-freedom-from-want-three-facts-1926485> [Accessed 25 October 2021].
TAN, A., 2021. Carbon Copy: The state of play on the six key issues at UN climate conference COP26. [online] The Straits Times. Available at: <https://www.straitstimes.com/world/carbon-copy-the-state-of-play-on-the-six-key-issues-at-un-climate-conference-cop26> [Accessed 25 October 2021].