The second meeting of The Aspen Institute “Food Security Strategy Group” was held in Rome between February 5-7, 2014, and saw the participation of entrepreneurs from the agro-food sector, experts, development practitioners, representatives from international organizations, and political leaders.
Those in attendance noted that the global food system has many flaws, and is riddled with serious imbalances and inefficiencies. These structural limitations have been thrown into sharp relief during these years of economic crisis, given the increased volatility in the prices of many commodities, while climate change is also posing new challenges for food producers and consumers.
It was felt that the food security approaches from which useful lessons could be drawn are those specifically involving partnership between public and private actors. In particular, there was a perceived need for appropriate policies on the part of governments and major international organizations to accompany the proper use of market dynamics, so as to make the production and distribution of food products more efficient. Emphasis was also placed on the importance of stimulating entrepreneurship and ensuring a sufficient flow of investment throughout the agro-food industry. Financial and credit considerations were deemed to be of particular significance, as was the environmental sustainability of resource exploitation.
Beyond these technical aspects and the commitment of political leaders, the participants stressed the need for the debate on food security to be framed within a proper ethical context. Indeed, it was recalled that a real moral imperative applies to hunger and poverty, informing the priorities for international action and specific decisions within individual countries. Humanitarian criteria also potentially come into play with respect to possible interventions – however they might vary in nature and degree – by the international community.
In conclusion, it was remarked that with a view to increasing the overall level of food security, more sophisticated evaluation and coordination tools are also being developed, such as the Global Food Security Index, which the participants felt was in line with the ongoing need to scrutinize innovations, as well as the application of new technologies and procedures, in the agro-food sector.
