Centering Global Food Security for Global Prosperity

02/21/2021

|

Catherine Bertini, Ertharin Cousin Cochairs | The Chicago Council on Global Affairs

The new Biden administration will face global crises on multiple fronts. COVID-19, coupled with conflict and escalating climate disasters, is leading to one of the most devastating humanitarian and hunger crises in the last century.

In the past decade, the food security and nutrition security programs of previous US administrations have demonstrated their value and impact for alleviating hunger and malnutrition and for reducing the threat of conflict and governmental instability.

As a result of targeted and thoughtful assistance, 23.4 million more people today live above the poverty line and 3.4 million more children are free from stunting. More than 5 million families now live free from hunger, and billions of dollars in agricultural sales have been generated.

The Biden administration has the opportunity to build on a strong foundation of work. To strengthen these programs in the next decade, the administration should consider these key actions:

– Creating more resilient and healthful food systems that are capable of absorbing shocks and stressors. Systems thinking—especially the integration of food, nutrition, health, climate, and agriculture— can drive sustainable outcomes.

–  Building inclusive partnerships from the beginning to create sustainable and resilient communities.

–  Investing in agricultural economies beyond US borders to create critical infrastructure that fosters agricultural trade from our own heartland.

report_centering-global-food-security-global-prosperity

To read the full article, please click here.