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Timeline to Zero Hunger Challenge and Post- 2015

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Photo Credit: un.org

The World Food Summit took place on November 1996 in Rome, Italy at the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters. Representatives from 185 countries and the European Community vowed to eliminate hunger and malnutrition, and to achieve sustainable food security for all people_biggest challenges of the new millennium. The summit culminated with the adoption of Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the World Food Summit Plan of Action by 112 Heads or Deputy Heads of State and Government, and by over 70 high-level representatives from other countries. Among others, the representatives pledged their political will and commitment to achieving food security, eradicate hunger in all countries and reduce the number of undernourished people to half their present level no later than 2015.

For more on Rome Declaration, click here: http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/w3613e/w3613e00.HTM

Eighteen years later, again world leaders met in Davos, Switzerland on January 23, 2014 for annual World Economic Forum, and one of the major developments from the forum were the signing of Zero Hunger Declaration. Signatories  of the declaration  included the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres, USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah, Unilever CEO Paul Polman, DSM CEO Feike Sijbesma and many others. Zero Hunger Declaration is the outcome of Zero Hunger Challenge, a comprehensive initiative for “commitment to ensure that every man, woman and child enjoy their Right to Adequate Food; women are empowered; priority is given to family farming; and food systems everywhere are sustainable and resilient.” (UN.org, 2014).

The challenge of Zero Hunger means:

  • Zero stunted children less than 2 years

  • 100% access to adequate food all year round

  • All food systems are sustainable

  • 100% increase in smallholder productivity and income

  • Zero loss or waste of food

For more on the Zero Hunger Challenge, click here: http://www.un.org/en/zerohunger/challenge.shtml

(Source: UN)

References:

FAO. (1996). World Food Summit: Rome Declaration on World Food Security. Retrieved on January 31, 2014  from  http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/w3613e/w3613e00.HTM