– As delivered –
Statement by H.E. Tijjani Muhammad Bande, President of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
17 September 2019
Deputy Secretary General,
Excellencies,
There is no question that this is a central topic relating to the implementation of the SDGs.
The SDGs are meant to be interlinked, and any action on one has implication for the others
If there should be one element that it is necessary for us to work on on a daily basis, it is whether we produce enough food that is also available, affordable and within reach of all.
Reforming food systems is not just about implements, important as they are, but also about relationships. It is about who the producers are, what marketing strategies or distribution systems are in place. This is important because we have repeatedly stated – when there are experts such as FAO around, I will not talk too much about agriculture, because I have been a failed farmer for over 30 years.
I would rather listen and take tips from the experts.
But more seriously, the real question is that when we are able to have systems of food production that respect rights, that are connected to the environment and climate change, we are better able to achieve all the other goals.
The implications for food waste are very clear – how we produce, how we eat, what we eat – what emissions happen or do not happen. Whether we are talking about places ravaged by drought at times and floods at times. How do we sustainably produce? What relationships can we forge in production systems so that farmers are not left at the level of subsistence?
Science and technology can provide better guarantees of more production. But although yields may increase, land availability will not increase. And therefore we have to be more rational in the way we utilize it.
We congratulate the organizers for this extremely important conversation.
