Organization: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA)

In 2012, the event ‘Food Security and Safety for Development in a Changing Arab World’ took place during the Rio+20 Conference. The aim was to highlight the growing concern over food as it is fast becoming one of the main economic, socio-political and environmental challenges facing the region.

There is a need to look at the food security situation in the region as part of the nexus of food, water and energy while also highlighting its importance for the youth, as it could be part of the solution to respond to their needs and aspirations.

The food security concern of the region results from a deficiency in food production, which is being exacerbated by the growing water insecurity. There is a need to look into how to remedy the situation by providing greater support to farmers. The recently established billion dollar social fund and the outcome of the regional social summit are good step forward in establishing adequate food security mechanisms for the region.

There should be a prioritization of what to produce in order to better achieve food security. The situation could become worse than it was acknowledge by the youth in the video as those most at risk, such as rural women and children, were not interviewed. The food situation in the region has been precarious since the 1970s but no major achievements have been made. This dire situation could improve if the region could achieve food self-sufficiency but that would deplete or degrade further the limited natural resources and notably would worsen the region’s water security.

Keywords: access to water, food security,

Location: ESCWA

Corresponding websites:

>> Video: ESCWA Rio+20 Food Security in a Changing Arab World
>> Rio+20 Side Event Report: Food Security and Safety for Development in a Changing Arab World