World leaders meeting at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) sponsored World Summit on Food Security have unanimously adopted a declaration pledging renewed commitment to "proactively face the challenges of climate change to food security and the need for adaptation of, and mitigation in agriculture... with particular attention to small agricultural producers and vulnerable populations."
The Summit which convened from 16-18 November 2009, at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy include four round tables on: minimizing the negative impact of the food, economic and financial crises on world food security; implementation of the reform of global governance of food security; climate change adaptation and mitigation: challenges for agriculture and food security; and measures to enhance global food security: rural development, smallholder farmers and trade considerations.
The roundtable on climate change discussed current and future challenges in various regions of the world with respect to:
- the likely impacts of climate change on food security;
- technology transfer, capacity building, information management, policies and financing needs for adapting agriculture to climate change;
- climate change and rural livelihoods, with a particular emphasis on the disproportionate impact that climate change will have on women; and
- agriculture as a potent contributor to mitigation incentives for developing countries, including financing for agriculture and climate change in the Copenhagen agreements.
In their Declaration, Heads of State and Government pledged to promote research for food and agriculture, including research to adapt to, and mitigate climate change, and access to research results and technologies at national, regional and international levels.
The Summit was sponsored by a generous contribution from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the continuous support from host country, Italy, and contribution from other countries.
Related LinksWorld Summit on Food SecurityFAO press releaseDeclaration
