Global Leaders Agree on New Pathway for Food Security Programs Across the Developing World

The Governments of Zambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and The Gambia, and the Commonwealth Secretariat, along with representatives from Qatar Foundation’s (QF’s) Earthna Centre for a Sustainable Future, UPL Ltd., AGRA, United Nations Development Programme, CGIAR, Chatham House, EMBRAPA, and the Indian Institute of Management Rohtak, have affirmed a renewed commitment to strengthening food production, storage, and supply chains across the developing world in sessions held at the inaugural Earthna Summit, held in Doha, Qatar.

One-in-four people globally are moderately or severely food insecure, yet the definition and characteristics of food insecurity differ in food producing and importing countries. The Earthna Summit aimed to build new sustainability pathways for hot and arid environments. As part of this, the summit sought to align South-South efforts and create a dedicated food security program to improve food-system resilience between producing and importing countries in Africa, India, and Latin America.

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In an open plenary session and a closed-door technical discussion, experts agreed to explore a new working methodology for food security improvements. This included ensuring farmer resilience, capacity building and demonstration plots for crops suited to climate tolerance. Zambia have been chosen to lead an initial pilot program.

Gonzalo Castro de la Mata, Executive Director of Earthna, said: “It is essential that the global community works together to encourage and enable self-sufficiency at national and international levels. I am delighted that at the Earthna Summit 2023, heads of state, QF’s Earthna and other partners have come together and committed to a new collaborative approach to enhance food security. I am confident that this program will lead to lasting and impactful action, and make a significant contribution to these country’s fight against climate change.”

Jai Shroff, Global CEO of UPL Ltd., said: “Our contention is very clear: no one has food security until everyone has food security. And the key to security here is resilience for farmers. The strength of our discussions in Doha show that there is new urgency in addressing food security, and new energy in the dialogue between developing world nations in agreeing the approaches that will deliver real results. We look forward to announcing our roadmap with Earthna, and to developing initial projects across the African continent.”

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A white paper outlining the technical discussions and recommendations for the pilot program will be prepared in the near future, ahead of confirmation of new funding for the pilot program in Zambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and The Gambia.

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