The mission of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s task force on global food security is taking a different direction following the U.N. Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio last week.
The group for one has dropped “crisis” in its name. Then-named High-Level Task Force on Global Food Security Crisis was launched in April 2008 to plan and coordinate a global response to the food crisis, which was caused by food price spikes, and help prevent future ones.
Now, the High-Level Task Force on Global Food Security turns its attention to achieving the five objectives of the Zero Hunger Challenge, an initiative Ban launched at Rio+20:
Achieve 100 percent access to adequate food year-round.
End malnutrition in pregnancy and early childhood.
Make all food systems sustainable.
Increase growth in the productivity and income of smallholders, particularly women.
Achieve a zero rate of food waste.
Ban met with the task force June 27. The group comprises relevant members of the U.N. Secretariat and heads of Bretton Woods institutions and U.N. specialized agencies, funds and programs.
“The Secretary-General noted that since it was established in 2008, the Task Force had made progress in devising a common comprehensive framework for action for the UN system in food and nutrition security, particularly during recent food crises,” a representative for Ban said following the meeting.
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