Newsletter
Don't miss a thing!
We regularly provide you with the most important news, articles, topics, projects and ideas for One World – No Hunger.
Newsletter
Don't miss a thing!
We regularly provide you with the most important news, articles, topics, projects and ideas for One World – No Hunger.
Please also refer to our data protection declaration.
The G7 is responding to the worsening global hunger crisis by mobilizing an additional $4.5 billion for this year alone. A key milestone for this in the run-up was the international conference on global food security "Uniting for Global Food Security".
It is not only a novelty for German politics. For the first time, the three federal ministries for foreign affairs, development and agriculture have jointly convened a conference to unite in the fight against the present food crisis. On June 24 in Berlin, 50 representatives from 40 countries debated answers to hunger worldwide, which has been dramatically exacerbated by Russia's war of aggression. They found them.
Two days, then, before the G7 summit in Elmau, the "Uniting for Global Food Security" meeting in the capital marked the start of deliberations by heads of state and government on what to do in the face of the food crisis. Stakeholders from governments, international organizations and civil society outlined the current situation: "47 million hungry people have been added by the Ukraine war alone," Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) said in a video message.
"A hundred more people are suffering every minute because of Putin's actions.", said Samantha Power of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). And Development Minister Svenja Schulze (SPD) pointed out that the international community has committed to ending hunger by 2030. "By then, every person should have sufficient and nutritious food. But this goal is moving further and further away," Schulze said. Today's hunger crisis is different from previous ones, he said, "current responses are needed."
That is why the German Development Minister, together with World Bank President David Malpass, launched the Alliance for Global Food Security (GAFS) as a global solidarity platform. Schulze comments: ...
"The alliance aims to avert the worst famine since the end of World War II and make structural changes that will prevent the suffering from being repeated in the future."
A key issue at the meeting was how to end Russia's blockade of sea lanes in the Black Sea - which is causing major shortfalls in grain exports from Ukraine to the rest of the world, with drastic hunger consequences worldwide. "Russia is using food as a weapon," summed up Wopke Hoekstra, foreign minister of the Netherlands. His German counterpart, Baerbock, appealed "to all who can afford it to extend their aid," adding, ...
"We are not in a short sprint, but in a long-distance race."
From the partner countries, many representatives spoke with stocktaking on this race and with suggestions. "We need to promote intra-African trade in food," said Josefa Leonel Correa Sacko, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development at the African Union (AU) Commission. The South African agriculture minister and the United Arab Emirates minister of environment and climate change both promoted more technology in agribusiness: Angela Thoko Didiza called for increased digitization and Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri outlined the positive consequences of investing in innovation. In turn, to bring more grain from Ukraine to the world in the short term, Romania's Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu suggested using the port in Costantza as a hub. Rania Al-Mashat summed up, "Multilateralism is under threat," said the Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation, "That's why our meeting is good."
Several participants already announced during the debate that their countries would increase funding for the World Food Program (WFP) and other humanitarian aid organizations - thus already sending positive signals for the summit in Elmau. At the same time, many in Berlin committed to transforming agricultural and food systems toward better adaptation to climate change and more sustainable production. But who is holding a reins for all of this?
Civil society representatives called for the strengthening of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS). Gabriel Ferrero, as Chairperson of the CFS itself, underlined, "It is not only time to act, but it is time to act together. The world's most vulnerable have no time for duplication or lack of coordination in policy action areas." Finally, the conference chair's conclusions state that the role of the CFS "should be strengthened as an inclusive and intergovernmental global platform to ensure food security and nutrition for all." There was also consensus among participants that the Rome-based UN agencies FAO, IFAD and WFP should play a central role.
Financing for food security was also discussed at the conference. "Countries need to be able to lend money to buy food," summed up Italy's Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio. David Malpass said $30 billion has been mobilized in the past 15 months to achieve food security. "We will find a way out of this crisis," the World Bank president said. Qu Dongyu, director general of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) added that local production should be strengthened while food losses and waste should be reduced. And Gilbert F. Huonbo, president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), added: "It will be critical to realize financing in rural areas."
It was clear to those involved that a quick response was needed. "The wheel cannot be reinvented," said Matthias Mogge, the chairman of the umbrella organization of development and humanitarian non-governmental organizations (VENRO), adding that there was not enough time. And Vicky Ford, permanent secretary at the U.K. Foreign Office, said, "Early intervention can save lives."
Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) emphasized that the multiple crises could only be mastered if forces were combined. "We hope that this format will create synergy effects." He went on to call for a debate on the use of agricultural products, ...
"... whether as food, fodder or biofuels; I personally can be very clear: Food for people comes first."
Toward the end of the event, Özdemir said, "We have to set the tone for the Elmau meeting." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed it in this way: "So. Let's get it done."
Read more “Corona exposes the weaknesses of our nutritional systems"
Read more 5 questions to F. Patterson: Why is there more hunger?
Read more Climate Adaptation Summit 2021: ‘We can do better’
Read more Small-scale farmers’ responses to COVID-19 related restrictions
Read more Video diaries in the days of Corona: Voices from the ground
Read more Resilient small-scale agriculture: A key in global crises
Read more A global signpost: What way is the market, please?
Read more The state of food security in Cape Town and St. Helena Bay
Read more The hype about urban gardening: farmers or hobby gardeners?
Read more How the self-help approach empowers smallholder women
Read more Global responsibility: Tackling hunger is the only way forward
Read more Gender equality: Essential for food and nutrition security
Read more Success story allotment garden: Food supply and women's empowerment
Read more Developing countries hit doubly hard by coronavirus
Read more Statement from GAFSP Co-Chairs: GAFSP and COVID-19 Pandemic
Read more This is how developing countries can adapt better to droughts
Read more What do you expect from this Pre Summit, Mr. Haddad?
Read more Mr. Campari, how do we create sustainable food systems?
Read more Mr. Marí, what happened at the alternative summit?
Read more What is wrong with our nutrition in Germany, Mr. Plagge ?
Read more How Can We Feed The World in Times of Climate Change?
Read more Food System Transformation Starts and Ends with Diversity
Read more Sustainable Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture in Rural Areas
Read more Land Rights for Secure Livelihoods: My Land is My Life
Read more City, Country, Sea: 6 Innovations in the Fight Against Climate Change
Read more Engaging the Community to Solve the Bushmeat Crisis
Read more German G7 Presidency – fighting hunger with all our might
Read more ‘Invite yourself’ – Farmers organisations as key stakeholders of food systems
Read more The lessons learned from the last food crisis - A solution?
Read more ‘Preserving and restoring fertile soils is a global responsibility.’
Read more What does it take to truly shift the paradigm on food systems?
Read more Strengthening food markets across the rural-urban continuum
Read more A dashboard as a key tool for global food security
Read more The importance of water for sustainable rural development
Read more How the War against Ukraine Destabilizes Global Grain Markets
Read more The Black Sea Breadbasket in Crisis: Facts and Figures
Read more Fair Trade and Climate Justice: Everything is Conntected
Read more The Rice Sector in West Africa: A Political Challenge
Read more 5 Questions for Jann Lay: What is Corona doing to the economy?
Read more Sustainable, feminist and socially just: The new Africa strategy of the BMZ
Read more The goals of transformation should leave no one behind
Read more BMZ releases video on the transformation of agricultural and food systems
Read more “More of the same is not enough - we need to rethink”
Read more Agricultural prices and food security – a complex relationship
Read more Strengthening the market linkages of smallholders in the face of global supply shocks
Read more Innovative donor approaches and sustainable finance – A Review of UNFSS+2
Read more What is needed for a long-term fertiliser strategy?
Read more What the Middle East conflict means for the children in Gaza
Read more Agricultural Financing – from a broader Perspective
Read more Where can international cooperation in Gaza come in, Ms. Asseburg?
Read more School Feeding: A unique platform to address gender inequalities
Read more The Future of Development Politics: Voices from the Parliamentary Groups
Read more Cooperation and Effective Incentives for Sustainable Land Use
Read more What Needs to Change for Africa’s Youth, Ms Kah Walla?
Read more Building Better Resilience to Transboundary Threats
Read more Governor's Day with Farmers – For more discussion with local actors
We use cookies on our website. Some of them are essential, while others help to improve your user experience. Your consent is voluntary and can be revoked at any time on the "Privacy" page.
Protects against cross-site request forgery attacks
Saves the current PHP session.
Content from third-party providers, such as YouTube, which collect data about usage. Third-party content embedded on this website will only be displayed to you if you expressly agree to this here.
We use Matomo analytics software, which collects anonymous data about website usage and functionality to improve our website and user experience.