Imrana komal
Islamabad: The United Nations will host a Food Systems Summit in October 2021 to identify the problems we must solve so that no one goes hungry, and to radically transform the way we manage food on the planet. The Summit will be the turning point in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. With only 10 years remaining, many of the 17 SDGs remain distant. Unsafe or unsustainable food systems are part and parcel of the development challenge. Rebuilding the food systems of the world enables us to answer the UN Secretary-General António Guterres call to “build back better” from COVID-19 and to leave no one behind. As part of Pakistan’s commitment to achieve SDGs by 2030, the Government is keen to amplify its participation in the Food Systems Summit in close consultation with the UN organizations. With this aim, a consultative meeting was held by the Secretary of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR) Ghufran Memon and attended by the Representatives and Country Directors of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations a.i. Rebekah Bell, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Chris Kaye and the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) Mohammad Fida.Under the convenorship of the Secretary Ministry of National Food Security and Research, the partners discussed how to organize dialogues at the provincial and national levels based on five identified action tracks i.e. ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all; shift to sustainable consumption patterns; boost nature-positive production; advance equitable livelihoods and build resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stress. The recommendations generated through these dialogues will be presented in a pre-Summit in July in Rome, Italy and final recommendations will be presented in the Summit in October in New York.The Summit actions and commitments will be informed by the best evidence, ideas, initiatives and alliances from around the world. The Summit will develop principles to guide the national and local governments, companies and citizens seeking to leverage their food systems to support sustainable development. These principles will set an optimistic and encouraging vision in which food systems play a central role in building a fairer, more sustainable world. The Food System Summit also aims to create a system of follow-up and review to ensure that the Summit’s outcomes continue to drive new actions and progress across all member states.With the call to build back better, transforming our food systems is among the most powerful ways to change course and make progress towards all 17 Sustainable Development Goals.