Live from the UN General Assembly: Food Security in Focus | The Global Refugee Crisis (UNGA Day 2)  (UN Dispatch)

UN Dispatch published an article on the UN General Assembly meeting where the key focus is on food security and food access.  Rob Vos, director for Markets, Trade, and Institutions discussed the speeches and comments made at the opening session of the food security summit. Vos said of the speeches, “There was a very strong call and spirit of doing things together. Call for more multilateralism, which we haven’t heard in a long time, particularly from some of the key players on this stage, but also a sense of urgency. And I think that’s maybe the most important thing. First, that food security takes center stage as part of the global challenges, not just because of rising hunger, not just because of the high food prices, but for the sheer continuity of our food systems, and the sustainability of our food systems moving forward. So really, the call I felt was going beyond the immediate humanitarian support to fight the costs of living crisis that many people face at the moment. He added, ” Secretary Blinken made it very clear that he saw a clear connection with the issue of climate change, the links between food security and conflict. Conflict is one of the main drivers of food crises. The Ukraine war is a reflection of it. But conflict in the Horn of Africa, in Yemen and other countries have been experiencing severe food crises for many years. And that that connection is there. It’s a driver. If we don’t solve these challenges with food security, we may see a lot more conflicts around the world, be it because producing more food will require struggles for water or land and other natural resources.” Vos also discussed the importance of fertilizer throughout the world, but especially in developing countries relying heavily on the agriculture sector.