Italy: FAO says agric, rural dev't crucial in responses to conflict, hunger, migration

15 Octobre 2017

Rome, Italy, October  15 (Infosplusgabon) -  At the G7 Agriculture Ministers Meeting on Sunday, the Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, José Graziano da Silva, stressed the role of agriculture and rural development in addressing prevention and responses related to conflicts, migration, and food security.

The G7 ministers were informed by the Director-General about FAO's intention, as co-chair - with the International Organization for Migration - in 2018, of the United Nations Global Migration Group (GMG), to emphasise the linkages between agricultural and rural development and migration, FAO said in a statement.

Addressing the G7 ministers in Bergamo, Italy, Graziano da Silva cited FAO and the International Food Policy Research Institute's (IFPRI) joint brief which includes five pathways towards durable and sustainable solutions to help prevent conflicts and address some of the underlying causes of forced migration.

These include the need to support risk and shock responses through resilience by investing in strengthening livelihoods and to foster inclusive and participatory processes on access to and use of natural resources.

"The G7 has helped to sharpen focus on the need to make food systems more sustainable, including through territorial approaches and we welcome the recognition that the role of women and young people is essential for achieving food security," Graziano da Silva said.

The statement said on Monday, several of the G7 ministers will join a World Food Day ceremony at FAO's headquarters in Rome where Pope Francis will deliver the keynote speech. World Food Day 2017's theme is: Change the future of migration. Invest in food security and rural development.

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/AZE/GABON 2017

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