More countries are joining the COVID-19 Food Coalition, an initiative launched by Italy and led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The coalition aims to tackle medium and long-term adverse impacts of the current pandemic on food systems and agriculture. So far, more than 35 nations have joined or offered support to the coalition, FAO reported.COVID-19 pandemic is becoming a serious threat to global food security. Soaring unemployment rates, income losses and rising food costs are jeopardising food access in developed and developing countries alike said FAO. The pandemic is also creating long-term effects on food security and national economies, plunging them into recession.
In response to the current emergency, the Food Coalition will support existing FAO efforts. It will help countries meet the Sustainable Development Goals on reducing hunger and malnutrition, said Beth Bechdol, FAO Deputy Director-General.
Before the pandemic, FAO already estimated at the start of the year, almost 690 million people went to bed hungry. While 135 million are on the brink of starvation. Another 183 million were at risk of being pushed into extreme hunger if faced with an additional stressor, which sparked concerns particularly in light of the evolving pandemic.
The coalition will support FAO efforts to promote resilient and sustainable food production systems. It will help improve nutrition, increase agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers. Especially women, youth, indigenous peoples and family farmers, while addressing disruptions caused by COVID-19. The coalition will also complement and benefit from FAO's Comprehensive Response and Recovery Programme, outlining seven key priority areas.
Bechdol concluded: "We encourage all our members to join this initiative. It is an exemplary approach to leveraging high-level capital and political will to avoid an escalation of the pandemic from a health crisis to a food crisis." (Image from Unsplash)
In response to the current emergency, the Food Coalition will support existing FAO efforts. It will help countries meet the Sustainable Development Goals on reducing hunger and malnutrition, said Beth Bechdol, FAO Deputy Director-General.
Before the pandemic, FAO already estimated at the start of the year, almost 690 million people went to bed hungry. While 135 million are on the brink of starvation. Another 183 million were at risk of being pushed into extreme hunger if faced with an additional stressor, which sparked concerns particularly in light of the evolving pandemic.
The coalition will support FAO efforts to promote resilient and sustainable food production systems. It will help improve nutrition, increase agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers. Especially women, youth, indigenous peoples and family farmers, while addressing disruptions caused by COVID-19. The coalition will also complement and benefit from FAO's Comprehensive Response and Recovery Programme, outlining seven key priority areas.
Bechdol concluded: "We encourage all our members to join this initiative. It is an exemplary approach to leveraging high-level capital and political will to avoid an escalation of the pandemic from a health crisis to a food crisis." (Image from Unsplash)
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