sometimes overshadowed by more dramatic events and acute crises. We will soon reach the 2015 tar- get date of the Millennium Development Goals, almost certainly without having met the goal of halving hunger globally. South Asia and Sub- Saharan Africa, in particular, still show alarm- ing levels of food and nutrition insecurity, despite the progress achieved in recent years. In addition, more work will be needed to reach an effective international agreement on climate change. We must find new ways to exploit the links
between agriculture and other sectors, including health, nutrition, water, and energy. Paying atention to gender equity will help make investments and interventions in these areas more effective. Because agriculture is at the nexus of all of these areas, we need to leverage it for broad development outcomes. At the same time, it will be important to set up a global system to measure, track, and monitor the impacts among agriculture, food and nutrition secu- rity, energy, and natural resources. In addition, to allocate resources more effectively, we should begin to base the prices of natural resources and food on their full value to society, including their social and environmental costs, such as impacts on climate change and health. All of these actions require skills and knowledge at the national and local level, so capacity building can help improve outcomes. Tese events and challenges will play out in dif- ferent ways in each country. National and local
policies are where global forces translate into on- the-ground impact, so good governance and effec- tive leadership and implementation can make a big difference. Some countries would benefit greatly from a stronger emphasis on building the capac- ity—that is, the skills and knowledge—of policy- makers and program implementers at all levels. Tis outlook points to some high-priority areas
for action in 2012. First, the G20 should take fur- ther steps to rein in food price volatility by, for example, doing more to reduce the competition between biofuel and food production and to dis- courage trade restrictions that exacerbate price swings. Second, the international community should consolidate global and regional agricul- tural growth strategies and create or strengthen the institutions and capacities needed to make these strategies work. In particular, this year’s G8 summit should work to ensure that the industrial countries meet their financial commitment in support of a country-led development process for achieving food security in developing countries. Tird, participants in the Rio+20 meeting should integrate economic, social, and environmental sustainability efforts and commit to concrete action to meet the long-term challenges of devel- opment, including poor nutrition, degraded soils, and scarce water. Finally, a broad intersectoral coalition should work together to address issues related to nutrition, food, and health. ■
10 MAJOR FOOD POLICY DEVELOPMENTS IN 2011
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