New Delhi: India G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant on Thursday (July 20) made a strong case for food waste prevention programmes globally to reduce food insecurity and mobilise private funding for research in sustainable agriculture. Mr. Kant was addressing the maiden Global Food Regulators Summit 2023 here. He said,
This is the first time a meeting of this nature is being held during India’s G20 presidency. We feel strongly that locally adapted crops are significant for the transition towards resilient agriculture and food systems.
To strengthen research, collaboration and public awareness of green crops, the G20 in its agriculture ministerial meeting, launched millet and other ancient grains international research initiative called Maharishi. The former bureaucrat said the world is passing through a critical time as one-third of the world is in recession, and 75 countries of the world are facing a global debt crisis. Also, there is a major crisis of food, fuel and fertiliser in several countries. He said and urged the global food regulators to consider encouraging the cultivation of alternative crops beyond the major grains,
The need of the hour is not only to focus on the immediate crisis and short-term measures but also for all countries to make their food systems more resilient in the long run.
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He also talked about India’s initiatives to popularise the use of millet. He informed that not a single meal is served at programs being held during India’s presidency. This, he said, is being done to promote alternative crops. He further said,
It is important to mobilise private funding towards research and development in climate resilient and sustainable agriculture…it’s important to ensure the protection of the most vulnerable groups through targeted social protection programmes such as food subsidies.
Mr. Kant also emphasised the increasing cooperation among government, private businesses and international partners, so that nutritious production systems, which ensure proper food security, are taken care of. He added,
It’s also important to implement food waste prevention programmes to reduce food insecurity. There is just too much food wastage in the world
India’s G20 Sherpa stressed on the deployment of digital tools to enhance agricultural practices, such as using soil maps to increase the efficient use of fertiliser. He urged the gathering to utilise the summit platform for learning, strengthening networks to improve food safety and creating a mechanism for investing in food safety in a sustainable way.
This summit is an endeavour of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the aegis of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to create a global platform of food regulators to exchange perspectives on strengthening food safety systems and regulatory framework across the food value chain.
Also Read: Millets Can Tackle Challenges Of Global Food Security, Bad Food Habits: PM Narendra Modi
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – theLGBTQ population,indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the currentCOVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water,SanitationandHygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fightmalnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health,adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues likeair pollution,waste management,plastic ban,manual scavengingand sanitation workers andmenstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India wheretoiletsare used andopen defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched byPrime Minister Narendra Modiin 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
