UN draft resolution on agriculture expresses concerns over higher fertiliser costs
The UN General Assembly, in its 79th session, is likely to call for a comprehensive and coordinated response from countries, expressing concern over the complex causes of food crises worldwide, particularly in developing countries and net food importers, and their impact on food security and nutrition, according to a draft resolution on “agriculture development, food security, and nutrition” shared with member countries.
The draft resolution emphasised the need for a comprehensive and coordinated response in the short, medium, and long term from national governments, civil society, academia, the private sector, and the international community. It identified poverty, growing inequality, lack of access to resources and income-earning opportunities, the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, biodiversity loss, disasters, conflicts, and geopolitical tensions as root causes of food insecurity and malnutrition.
It also stated that excessively volatile food prices pose a serious challenge to combating poverty and hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition, and meeting internationally agreed development goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to ending hunger, addressing malnutrition, and ensuring the right to adequate food.
The draft resolution has expressed deep concern about achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2, stating that the current pace and scope of implementation are unlikely to drive the transformational change required. It also noted that many countries are unlikely to meet the targets on time, highlighting the need for additional efforts to support them.
Amid controversies over duties imposed by countries to restrict the import of agricultural produce, the draft resolution attempts to take a balanced view, stating: “Reaffirming that agriculture remains a fundamental and key sector for developing countries, providing the main source of income, particularly for smallholders and family farmers, creating job opportunities, and emphasising the importance of working towards eliminating all forms of protectionism.”
The draft resolution also says: “Noting with concern the rise in food and agricultural input prices, including fertiliser prices, and the shortages caused by supply chain disruptions, which affect crop yields and threaten future agricultural productivity, as well as the ongoing disruption to transport and shipping, contributing to a surge in shipping and transport costs, particularly impacting developing countries.”
Due to disturbances in the Red Sea, cargoes have been using the Cape of Good Hope route to connect Europe with Asian countries for the export and import of commodities, resulting in a transit time at least 30 days longer than usual and significantly increased costs.