Joining forces to tackle global food security challenges

THE global agri-sector is vital to the world economy. It provides food, feed, fibre and other raw materials and accounts for nearly US$6 trillion in farmgate production value while employing more than two billion people. It is a foundation for rural development, and underpins many economies in terms of share of GDP (gross domestic product) and employment. However, agriculture also accounts for 70 per cent of freshwater withdrawal and generates 12 per cent of all man-made greenhouse gases.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates 795 million people are undernourished and go to bed hungry every night. Of this, about half are from smallholder farming communities, surviving off marginal lands prone to natural disasters including drought or flood. Some 500 million small farms worldwide still provide up to 80 per cent of food consumed in much of the developing world.

A large percentage of food produced is wasted around the world and 3.1 million children die each year due to poor nutrition.