Thu Oct 17 13:03:43 UTC 2024: ## UNDP Calls for Systemic Food System Transformation to Counter Climate Change and Conflict

**New York, October 16, 2024** – On World Food Day, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is urging a systemic transformation of global food systems to combat the combined threats of climate change and conflict, which are undermining agriculture and driving food insecurity.

The organization’s new white paper, released today, outlines four key dimensions for reform aimed at enhancing sustainability and resilience:

* **Addressing Climate Change:** The paper stresses the need for urgent action to mitigate climate change impacts on food production, citing the recent volatile rice prices as an example. Severe flooding in Pakistan last year led to a decline in global rice supply, causing price hikes and straining household budgets.
* **Combating Conflict:** The paper emphasizes the role of conflict in exacerbating food insecurity, citing examples in Ukraine and Gaza where displacement, destruction, and disrupted economies worsen hunger and instability.
* **Investing in Sustainable Practices:** The paper highlights the importance of promoting sustainable agricultural practices, including the use of technology and innovation.
* **Enhancing Inclusivity and Equity:** UNDP stresses the need for equal participation and benefit-sharing for women and men in food systems, pointing to initiatives like the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) in India.

“Global food systems are broken, and billions of people are paying the price,” stated UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the UN Food Systems Summit +2 in July. He emphasized that these challenges are not unavoidable but rather a consequence of our choices.

UNDP is actively working to implement these reforms, citing the success of the “Great National Crusade for Nutrition” in Guatemala, a joint initiative with UNICEF and WFP, which has mobilized public and private financing to combat chronic malnutrition.

The paper concludes by emphasizing the critical need for collaboration among UN agencies, international financial institutions, member states, and other stakeholders to strengthen food systems for long-term resilience and sustainability.

“We must dismantle the barriers obstructing progress and build collaborative, sustainable, inclusive, and resilient food systems that serve both people and the planet,” stated the UNDP.

**Key Takeaways:**

* Climate change and conflict are driving food insecurity.
* UNDP calls for a systemic transformation of food systems.
* The organization outlines four key dimensions for reform: climate change mitigation, conflict resolution, sustainable practices, and inclusivity.
* UNDP highlights the importance of collaboration and emphasizes the urgency of action.

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