FAO launches new science and innovation network to transform agrifood systems in Asia-Pacific
FAO launches new science and innovation network to transform agrifood systems in Asia-Pacific Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
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Transformation of Sustainable Agrifood Systems in the Asia-Pacific Region
Introduction
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) emphasized the need for a coordinated response across multiple policy levels to ensure food security and livelihoods in the Asia-Pacific region. This was reported at the One Country One Product (OCOP) second regional organizing group meeting in China.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Goal 2: Zero Hunger
- Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Special Agricultural Products (SAPs)
Twenty-two countries in the region have identified twenty distinct Special Agricultural Products (SAPs) that contribute to ensuring food security and healthy diets. These products have the potential to be integrated into mainstream high-value domestic, regional, and international value chains and markets.
FAO’s Role
FAO’s Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, Jong-Jin Kim, highlighted the importance of bringing science and innovation to the forefront to maximize the value of unique agricultural products. FAO’s One Country One Product (OCOP) programme helps Member Countries identify SAPs and leverage their potential.
Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing
The network is built on strategic partnerships with leading institutions, including the Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research (IGSNRR-CAS) and the Institute of Nutrition at Mahidol University. These collaborations utilize advanced methodologies, such as the Geographical Indications, Environment, and Sustainability (GIES) approach, to ensure traceability of product origins, monitor environmental impacts, and enhance the nutritional value of SAP-based foods.
Regional Development Priorities
FAO’s strategic partnerships aim to drive regional development priorities and ensure the inclusion of smallholder farmers, rural communities, and underrepresented groups in the transformation of agrifood systems. The initiative promotes better production, enhanced processing, and improved market access.
International Capacity Building Workshop
FAO, in partnership with IGSNRR-CAS, is organizing an International Capacity Building Workshop on the GIES methodology for SAP development. The workshop will take place from 11-21 September 2024 in Beijing and will provide participants with field visits and hands-on training to apply innovative practices to their own agricultural sectors. Participants will also have the opportunity to showcase their SAP products at the 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS).
Contributing to the FAO Strategic Framework
This new network aligns with the FAO Strategic Framework 2022–2031 and its goal of achieving “Four Betters” – better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life for all, leaving no one behind.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
The article discusses the transformation of sustainable agrifood systems and the importance of ensuring food security and livelihoods in the Asia-Pacific region. These issues are directly connected to SDG 2, which aims to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. The article also mentions the potential integration of agricultural products into value chains and markets, which aligns with SDG 8’s target of promoting sustainable economic growth and decent work. Additionally, the article highlights the use of advanced methodologies to monitor environmental impacts and enhance the nutritional value of food products, which relates to SDG 12’s target of promoting sustainable consumption and production. Lastly, the article emphasizes the importance of strategic partnerships, which is in line with SDG 17’s focus on partnerships for achieving the goals.
2. Specific Targets Under the SDGs Based on the Article’s Content
- SDG 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists, and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets, and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment.
- SDG 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.
- SDG 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.
- SDG 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources, to support the achievement of the sustainable development goals in all countries, in particular developing countries.
The article highlights the need to double agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, which aligns with SDG 2.3. It also emphasizes the promotion of development-oriented policies and the growth of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, which relates to SDG 8.3. The article mentions the reduction of food losses along production and supply chains, which is in line with SDG 12.3. Lastly, the article emphasizes the importance of partnerships for achieving sustainable development goals, which aligns with SDG 17.16.
3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article
- Indicator for SDG 2.3: Agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers
- Indicator for SDG 8.3: Number of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises
- Indicator for SDG 12.3: Per capita global food waste and food losses along production and supply chains
- Indicator for SDG 17.16: Number of multi-stakeholder partnerships for sustainable development
The article mentions the need to double agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, which can be measured using indicators such as the average yield per hectare and the average income of small-scale food producers. It also discusses the growth of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, which can be measured by the number of registered enterprises or the percentage increase in the number of such enterprises. The article highlights the reduction of food waste and losses along production and supply chains, which can be measured by tracking the amount of food waste and losses at different stages of the supply chain. Lastly, the article emphasizes the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships, which can be measured by the number of partnerships formed or the number of joint initiatives implemented.
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 2: Zero Hunger | 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists, and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets, and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment. | Agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services. | Number of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises |
| SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses. | Per capita global food waste and food losses along production and supply chains |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources, to support the achievement of the sustainable development goals in all countries, in particular developing countries. | Number of multi-stakeholder partnerships for sustainable development |
Source: fao.org
