Food security is pivotal to world peace, maintained global leaders at the Borlaug International Dialogue

Des Moines, Iowa, 24 October 2022 (IICA) – There can be no peace in the world without food security, argued global leaders at the Borlaug International Dialogue – the planet’s most prestigious discussion forum on agriculture. The Dialogue, organized by the World Food Prize (WFP) Foundation, is held in Des Moines, in the North American state of Iowa.

The Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Manuel Otero, attended this year’s event, which included the presentation of the “Agriculture for Peace” project – a platform created to spur collective action, the forging of partnerships and collective programs aimed at furthering the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2: the eradication of hunger.

The Agriculture for Peace partners include the Norman Borlaug Foundation, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR), the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and Texas A&M University. 

The Borlaug Dialogue attracted the participation of government officials, private-sector representatives, international organizations, agricultural producers, academics, scientists, educators and students. This year’s edition was entitled “Feeding a Fragile World” and placed the focus on overcoming the shocks that have destabilized global food systems and forging partnerships to tackle hunger and malnutrition.

The “Agriculture for Peace: A Platform for Action” session was presented by Bram Govaerts, Director General of CIMMYT, and moderated by Margaret Bath, Chair of CIMMYT’s Board of Trustees.

Speakers on the panel were Sharon E. Burke, Founder and President of the research firm, Ecospherics; Per Pinstrup-Andersen, 2021 World Food Prize Laureate and Professor of Agricultural Economics at Copenhagen University; Alice Ruhweza, Africa Regional Director for environmental organization, World Wildlife Fund; Julie Borlaug, President of the Norman Borlaug Foundation; as well as Manuel Otero.

The Agriculture for Peace platform will work to support food and agriculture strategies by increasing investments in science-based solutions and participatory models that catalyze transformation to more productive, sustainable, and resilient agrifood systems; improve livelihoods for small-scale producers and deliver healthy, affordable diets for all consumers.

Conflict and hunger

“Conflict produces hunger and hunger creates conflict. The two are inseparable”, maintained Sharon Burke, who pointed out that the consequences of malnutrition today are hidden in the impact of the war in Eastern Europe, but in children and youth the effects can last a lifetime.

“There can be no peace without food and therefore boosting the productivity of agriculture in all countries is essential to achieving security. It is not just a matter of producing more today, but we must think 10 or 20 years ahead and not sacrifice our indigenous communities along the way”, she added.

Pinstrup-Andersen explained that 30 years ago he began to closely examine the relationship between conflict and food security, stating that, “I think we are still not doing enough to understand it, but we must not give up”.

The academic argued that, “It is possible to mitigate climate change, while also increasing agricultural productivity. However, we must take a closer look at what is happening on the farms of small-scale producers, which is where our future is at stake. We must help small farmers to escape poverty, not merely to survive”.

Speaking from Kenya, via video, Alice Ruhweza underscored the relationship between climate change, biodiversity loss and food security.

“These three—she said—are among the most serious challenges facing humanity today and they are intertwined. Each one impacts the others and therefore we need integrated actions and policies to address them”.

On the other hand, Julie Borlaug, granddaughter of scientist Norman Borlaug—considered as one of the fathers of the Green Revolution that significantly increased agricultural production in the 20th Century—stressed that, “We are talking about the same issues as ten years ago. My grandfather would suggest that we go out into the fields, rather than simply talking. We must focus on where we went wrong, so that we can make a change”. 

Otero spoke of the situation in Latin America and the America, where social tensions have arisen due to the multidimensional crisis that is devastating countries and societies.

He pointed out that, “Traditionally, governments have not placed enough importance on agriculture and rural development, considering them as secondary. This has been a serious mistake”.

The IICA Director General announced that the Institute would establish a pavilion focusing on sustainable agriculture in the Americas at the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), in an effort to position agricultural production as an important part of climate negotiations.

“We must increase productivity and produce more sustainably”, said Otero, in closing. He revealed that during a meeting at IICA headquarters in September, the ministers and secretaries of Agriculture of the Americas had arrived at a consensus with a view to COP27, with all agreeing that to avoid compounding the unfortunate food crisis that is taking place currently, transformations should be science-based”. 

More information:
Institutional Communication Division.
comunicacion.institucional@iica.int