Report on the Formation of the Food Security Leadership Council

Executive Summary: A Strategic Initiative for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)

A new entity, the Food Security Leadership Council (FSLC), has been established to align United States policy and scientific efforts with global action against hunger. Led by 2024 World Food Prize Laureate Cary Fowler, the council’s primary mission is to formulate a strategic blueprint for U.S. engagement in global food and nutrition security, directly addressing the objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2: Zero Hunger).

Context: Compounding Crises Impacting Sustainable Development

The formation of the FSLC occurs amidst significant global challenges that threaten progress on multiple Sustainable Development Goals. The United Nations reports that over 700 million people currently face hunger, a figure projected to increase due to a combination of interconnected crises. These challenges directly impede the achievement of several SDGs:

• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Rising hunger numbers are the primary concern.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): The climate crisis is a major driver of food production instability.
• SDG 15 (Life on Land): Widespread soil degradation and biodiversity loss reduce agricultural capacity.
• SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): Increasing water scarcity and the depletion of aquifers for irrigation compromise food systems.

Cary Fowler notes the severe threat posed by the convergence of these factors, emphasizing that the world will face the combined effects of climate change, soil degradation, and water supply issues. The council also acknowledges that U.S. policy decisions, including changes at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), have exacerbated these challenges, necessitating a transformative approach rather than a restoration of previous policies.

Strategic Framework and Thematic Focus

The FSLC’s work is structured around six interconnected themes designed to create a comprehensive policy response. This framework supports a multi-faceted approach to achieving the SDGs, particularly through SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

1. Food and agricultural innovation
2. Multilateral policy
3. Public data and early warning systems
4. Trade
5. International agricultural development
6. Humanitarian response

This strategic focus aims to transform U.S. policy to better support global food systems, moving beyond outdated models to build resilient and sustainable solutions.

Council Composition and Collaborative Partnerships (SDG 17)

In line with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), the FSLC has established two advisory groups composed of distinguished experts from various sectors to guide its work. This collaborative structure ensures a wealth of diverse knowledge and experience.

Advisory Groups

• Distinguished Fellows: This group includes Bill Burke (Food Tank Board Member), Jerry Glover (former USAID Deputy Director), Rosamond Naylor (Stanford University), Roy Steiner (The Rockefeller Foundation), and Arun Baral (HarvestPlus).
• Members: This group includes Ambassador Ertharin Cousin, Chef Dan Barber, Dr. Cynthia Rosenzweig (2022 World Food Prize Laureate), and former U.S. Senator Jon Tester.

Conclusion: A Blueprint for a Sustainable Future

The Food Security Leadership Council intends to leverage its collective expertise to develop a comprehensive blueprint for U.S. policy. This plan will provide a strategic reset of policies, investments, and institutional frameworks. The ultimate objective is to create a transformative and sustainable path forward to meet the global challenge of hunger, directly contributing to the achievement of SDG 2 and its related Sustainable Development Goals.

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

Detailed Explanation:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: This is the central theme of the article. The formation of the Food Security Leadership Council (FSLC) is explicitly to “solve global hunger.” The article quantifies the problem by stating, “More than 700 million people face hunger in the world,” and addresses “food and nutrition security” as a primary goal.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article directly links climate change to the food crisis, noting that hunger numbers are “expected to rise in the coming decades as the climate crisis…worsen.” Cary Fowler is quoted emphasizing the “effect of climate change on food production.”
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The article identifies “soil degradation” and “biodiversity loss” as critical factors exacerbating food insecurity, connecting the health of terrestrial ecosystems directly to the ability to produce food.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The issue of “water scarcity” and “problems with aquifers that are supplying irrigation water” is mentioned as a key challenge compounding the effects of climate change on food production.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article is fundamentally about creating a partnership to influence policy. The FSLC aims to “align American policy, science, and action,” focuses on “multilateral policy,” and brings together experts from diverse fields. This embodies the collaborative approach of SDG 17 to achieve sustainable development.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Detailed Explanation:

1. Under SDG 2 (Zero Hunger):
   • Target 2.1: End hunger and ensure access to safe, nutritious food. The article’s core mission to “solve global hunger” and ensure “food and nutrition security” directly aligns with this target.
   • Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production and resilient agricultural practices. The concern for the combined effects of “climate change,” “soil degradation,” and “water scarcity” on food production points to the need for resilient systems as described in this target.
   • Target 2.a: Increase investment in agricultural research and productive capacity. The article laments the “sudden termination of agricultural research” programs by USAID and highlights the FSLC’s focus on “food and agricultural innovation” and “international agricultural development,” which are central to this target.
   • Target 2.b: Correct and prevent trade restrictions in world agricultural markets. The inclusion of “trade” as one of the six interconnected themes for the FSLC’s work directly relates to this target.
2. Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards. The article’s emphasis on the “effect of climate change on food production” implies a need to build resilience in food systems to adapt to these climate-related challenges.
3. Under SDG 15 (Life on Land):
   • Target 15.3: Combat desertification and restore degraded land and soil. The specific mention of “soil degradation” as a worsening problem directly connects to the goals of this target.
4. Under SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation):
   • Target 6.4: Substantially increase water-use efficiency and address water scarcity. The article’s reference to “water scarcity” and “problems with aquifers that are supplying irrigation water” highlights the importance of sustainable water management in agriculture, which is a key component of this target.
5. Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
   • Target 17.14: Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development. The FSLC’s primary objective to “align American policy, science, and action” and “craft a forward-looking blueprint for U.S. engagement” is a clear effort to improve policy coherence.
   • Target 17.9: Enhance international support for capacity-building. The focus on “international agricultural development” and creating a “blueprint” for U.S. policy implies a goal of providing more effective international support.

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Detailed Explanation:

• Indicator 2.1.1 (Prevalence of undernourishment): The article explicitly mentions a figure directly related to this indicator: “More than 700 million people face hunger in the world.” This statistic serves as a baseline measurement of the problem the FSLC aims to solve. While not presented as a formal indicator, it is the primary metric of hunger discussed.
• Implied Indicators: The article implies the use of other indicators without stating them. For example, tracking the impacts of “soil degradation,” “water scarcity,” and “biodiversity loss” would be necessary to measure the compounding problems mentioned. Similarly, tracking U.S. investment in “international agricultural development” and “humanitarian response” would be an implied indicator of progress towards the FSLC’s goals.

SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: foodtank.com