Welt Hunger Hilfe has interviewed agricultural scientist Professor Joachim von Braun who heads the Scientific Group for the UN Food Systems Summit.
He says, “the world food system suffers from three ailments: First, it does an insufficient job of overcoming hunger. Second, it does not prevent malnutrition, obesity and the problem of unhealthy diets. And third, it contributes to the endangerment of planet Earth. Moreover, the world food system is now suffering from the COVID-19 shock. It cannot adequately respond to pandemics and other shocks and is thus not sufficiently resilient.
“We need new institutions and frameworks like a global agricultural trading system that has sustainable supply chains as part of its mandate. We need much more investment in the food system, and we need access to jobs and at least minimal social protection for those affected by hunger. Moreover, in the field of food and agriculture, there is, to date, no institution like there is in climate policy, where there is a UN committee, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the IPCC, which provides a clear structure for the interaction of science and policy.
“There is no other area where the human rights of so many people are violated as in the food system. It concerns not only the right not to go hungry, but also the right to a sustainably produced and healthy diet. We can only make progress if we involve the entire human rights community in the fight against hunger. We need judges and lawyers as well, and where possible, national and international legal action.”
Further reading:
- Universal support for the Omnilabel at UN pre-Food Systems Summit event
- Food treaty needed from UN Food Systems Summit
- Scientists and academics petition against UN Food Systems Summit
