UN Geneva - Multimedia Newsroom : FAO Press conference

good morning and thank you for joining the FAO

press conference at the UN office at Geneva.

Today's press conference will cover the launch of

FAO's flagship report. The State of Food and Agriculture 2024 also known as the SOFA

Report,

so

far provides comprehensive annual overview of topics related to FAO's

mandate.

It lays strong emphasis on emerging development areas such

as agrifood systems and digital technologies and agriculture.

Today we have with us in the press room Andrea Cataneo,

the FA O senior economist who is also the lead author of this report.

Now,

please note that this press conference is under embargo and the embargo

will be lifted on 8 November 10 a.m. Central European time.

So please respect the embargo.

And without further ado, I would like to invite Mr Andrea Cataneo to the floor.

Thank you, Kate.

so our agrifood systems provide immense value feeding billions,

supporting livelihoods

and driving economies around the world. However, this year's, uh,

state of food and agriculture report confirms that globally

agrifood systems generate about $12 trillion in environmental,

social and health hidden costs.

These are costs to society that are not reflected in market prices,

but somebody ends up paying them

Of this amount,

around 70% arise from unhealthy dietary patterns and are linked

to alarming non communicable diseases such as heart disease,

stroke and diabetes.

These are the headline numbers of a report

now this year report updates and refines numbers produced

for the previous edition for 100 and 53 countries.

The novelty, uh,

of the report that is being launched is

that it unpacks the hidden health costs into subcategories

to better identify

policy entry points to address the problem.

It also goes beyond simply raising awareness, saying that there's a problem

by putting challenges in context to find solutions to improve the value delivered,

uh, by agrifood systems.

So there are three main points I would like to highlight today.

First acknowledge that distinct agrifood systems

face unique challenges.

To do this to report analyses,

results through the lens of different agrifood system types.

We find that countries and territories

in protracted crisis one of six categories

bear the greatest burden of hidden costs,

particularly environmental and social costs,

the latter being linked to poverty among

every food workers and undernourishment more generally.

So these costs in protracted crisis.

Countries are comparable to 47% of the average GDP in this group of countries,

characterised by prolonged conflict and stability and food insecurity.

Improving how these

a

agrifood systems

function can deliver huge benefits.

Traditional agrifood systems characterised by high

share of calories from staples,

relatively low productivity and shorter value chains face similar challenges,

but to a smaller degree, uh,

comparable to about nonetheless to about 22% of their GDP.

Now,

when we look at the industrial agrifood systems and those that are diversifying,

these have the highest global hidden costs in absolute monetary terms,

driven in large part by unhealthy dietary patterns,

indicating an important area to focus on

now.

This diversity requires tailored agrifood

systems transformation strategies with interventions that

address the specific needs and characteristics of each agrifood system type.

Now,

the second point that I would like to make is that

the report highlights reports to address these health hidden costs,

since they account for 70% of total hidden costs.

And to do this,

it further breaks these down into 13 specific dietary risk factors

to enable countries to build more targeted and effective policy interventions.

So what emerges from the analysis.

Low consumption of whole grains and fruits and a high intake of sodium are

the leading dietary risks related to non

communicable diseases at the global level.

As such, they stand as one of the most pressing challenges we must confront.

However, the composition of risk factors varies across agrifood system types,

for example, in protracted crisis systems and traditional systems.

Of primary concern is a low intake of fruits and vegetables,

indicating that identifying ways to make

these readily accessible in difficult situations

is an important entry point for action.

But this is not the case for other agrifood system types,

such as formalising an industrial river.

Primary concern are diets low in whole grains.

On the other hand,

high consumption of processed and red meat steadily increases throughout

the transition from traditional

and to industrial systems, where it ranks among the top three dietary risks.

This diversity again shows clearly that solutions need

to be tailored to a problem at hand.

Which brings me

to the third and final point.

The report focuses on how

to enhance the value of agrifood systems to society,

going beyond just pointing out that there are these hidden costs.

So considering more than just GDP and recognising that

agrifood systems are essential for food security and nutrition,

biodiversity, conservation, livelihoods and more,

the report stresses that delivering more value

to society requires co-ordinated action involving producers,

agribusinesses, governments, financial institutions and consumers.

The challenge in addressing hidden costs is that this will result at

times in uneven impacts across stakeholders, countries and time frames.

The report thus outlines how supportive policies

and regulations can help minimise disruptions,

particularly for small scale producers and agribusinesses.

So, for example,

decision makers that may decide to focus on their rental

side and provide financial and regulatory incentives for sustainable practises.

And this can be also including through labelling and certification,

voluntary standards from a private sector

and industry wide due diligence initiatives.

On the social side,

policymakers may try to limit power imbalances between

agrifood system stakeholders through policies and regulations,

and when financially viable, put in place social protection measures

and in agrifood systems where unhealthy

dietary patterns dominate the hidden costs.

It will be important to empower consumers with

information about the impacts of food choices,

as well as promoting healthier diets through appropriate policies,

harnessing a significant purchasing power of

food procurement through institutions to reshape food

supply chains and improve food environments

is identified as a promising direction.

So the takeaway message

after these three main points on

on the practical side is that it's possible to targeted value driven

actions to enhance the value of agrifood systems for society both today

and for the future generations.

However, stakeholder engagement to discuss trade offs will be key.

Thank you.

All right. Thank you.

Thank you, Andrea, for this comprehensive overview of the sofa report,

uh, we will now open the floor for questions.

Um, journalists in the in the room or in zoom, please feel free to, uh,

raise your hand up, and, um,

please state your organisation and name before asking your questions.

Uh,

well, while we wait for the questions, maybe I would like to highlight that.

This marks the first time in

history that this flagship publication has been dedicated

to the same theme for two consecutive years,

underscoring the urgent need to transform

agrifood systems for a sustainable future.

So,

um, and also, this is to

let you know that we will have a global launch,

uh,

virtually And for those who would like to follow.

Please,

Please keep in mind that it will take place online

tomorrow on 8 November at 1230 Central European time.

And you will be able to follow the event live on FA

O Webcast where interpretation will be provided in all UN languages.

So

I'm just checking the zoom.

Well, I see no questions so far,

but, um,

please let us know if you have any follow

up questions or interview requests after the press conference,

and we would be very happy to facilitate

to support your reporting.

And, um, since we have no questions,

uh, I guess we I believe we will be able to conclude this FA O press conference.

We wish you a lovely rest of the day and thank you very much.

Thank you.

FAO Press conference - 7 November 2024