I send warm greetings to everyone at the 44th session of the Committee on World Food Security.
 
Food security, and this committee, have a key role to play in achieving the 2030 Agenda and especially SDG2, Zero Hunger.
 
Despite steady progress in recent years, hunger is on the rise. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that there are some 815 million chronically undernourished people in the world.
 
Protracted crises, conflict, and extreme weather events linked to climate change are taking an appalling toll on the poorest people in the world. Many have no choice but to abandon their homes and their land.
 
The theme of World Food Day 2017 is “Change the future of migration. Invest in food security and rural development”.
 
Such investments create stronger and more resilient communities so that people can prosper and thrive without having to move.
 
We face a great challenge. But we have the tools and the commitment to end global hunger.
 
I thank you for your commitment and wish you all the best for your meeting.