PREVIEW OF FAO COMMITTEE ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ROME 001706 SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/EDA WINNICK AND KOTOK USDA/FAS FOR REICH AND HUGHES USAID FOR CUMMINGS MEXICO CITY FOR BRAKEL MOSCOW FOR WIGGIN FROM FODAG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EAID EAGR EAID EAGR EAID EAGR EAID EAGR FAO AORC FAO AORC FAO AORC FAO SUBJECT: PREVIEW OF FAO COMMITTEE ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY 29TH SESSION REF: A) ROME 1380 B) ROME 1685 ¶1. SUMMARY. THE UN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO) COMMITTEE ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY (CFS) WILL MEET MAY 12-16 IN ITS FIRST SESSION AFTER THE "WORLD FOOD SUMMIT:FIVE YEARS LATER" RECONFIRMED ITS MANDATE TO MONITOR PROGRESS TOWARDS REACHING THE GOAL OF HALVING WORLD HUNGER BY 2015. THE CFS WILL CONSIDER FAO'S "ANTI- HUNGER PROGRAM" -- A USD 24 BILLION/YEAR PROPOSAL TO "GET COUNTRIES ON TRACK TOWARDS MEETING WORLD FOOD SUMMIT GOALS"-- AND FAO'S PROPOSAL TO INSTITUTIONALIZE THE "INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE AGAINST HUNGER." THE CFS MEETING PRESENTS OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE UNITED STATES TO WORK WITH OTHER COUNTRIES TO IMPROVE CFS MONITORING AND TO HIGHLIGHT THE U.S.'S OWN "ANTI-HUNGER" INITIATIVES. END SUMMARY. OPENING OF THE SESSION, BUREAU -------------- ¶2. THE 29TH SESSION OF THE CFS WILL MEET MAY 12-16, 2003 IN ITS FIRST SESSION AFTER THE 2002 WORLD FOOD SUMMIT:FIVE YEARS LATER MEETING (WFS5YL) RECONFIRMED ITS MANDATE TO MONITOR PROGRESS TOWARDS REACHING THE GOAL OF HALVING WORLD HUNGER BY 2015. THE CFS BUREAU SERVES FOR TWO SESSIONS. THE CHAIR (THAILAND) AND VICE-CHAIRS (FRANCE, REPUBLIC OF KOREA, EGYPT AND SOUTH AFRICA) WILL SERVE THROUGH THIS YEAR'S SESSION. THE PRESIDENT OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC WILL OPEN THE SESSION. FAO DIRECTOR GENERAL JACQUES DIOUF WILL ATTEND THE FIRST DAY. THE U.S. WILL REPRESENT NORTH AMERICA ON THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE. ITEM II. FAO DISTINGUISHED LECTURE ON FOOD SECURITY -------------- -------------- ¶3. FORMER IMF DIRECTOR MICHEL CAMDESSUS WILL PRESENT THE LECTURE. ITEM III. ASSESSMENT OF THE WORLD FOOD SECURITY SITUATION -------------- --- ¶4. THE FAO ASSESSMENT PRESENTS A BRIEF ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT WORLD FOOD SECURITY SITUATION. ¶5. CURRENT SITUATION: THE DOCUMENT STATES THAT THE NUMBER OF UNDERNOURISHED IS NOW ESTIMATED AT 840 MILLION, A DECREASE OF BARELY 2.5 MILLION OVER THE LAST 7 YEARS, AND FAR BELOW THE 22 MILLION A YEAR REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE THE WORLD FOOD SUMMIT (WFS) GOAL OF HALVING THE NUMBER OF HUNGRY BY 2015. OUT OF A TOTAL OF 96 DEVELOPING COUNTRIES FOR WHICH COMPARABLE DATA EXISTS, THE FAO CONSIDERS THAT 24 COUNTRIES ARE "ON TRACK" TO ACHIEVING THE WFS TARGET, 6 ARE "LAGGING BEHIND" AND 44 COUNTRIES ARE "OFF TRACK." OUTSIDE OF ASIA AND EASTERN EUROPE, GROWTH RATES IN MOST DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ARE "TOO LOW TO GENERATE A MARKED EFFECT ON POVERTY REDUCTION." ¶6. HUNGER HOT SPOTS: 38 COUNTRIES, MOST OF THEM (25) IN AFRICA, ARE EXPERIENCING SERIOUS FOOD SHORTAGES. ¶7. FOOD AID REQUIREMENTS: THE WFP FIGURE OF USD 3 BILLION FOR 2003 IS CITED. ¶8. AVAILABILITY AND STABILITY OF SUPPLY: THE REPORT NOTES LAST YEAR'S DECLINE IN CEREAL PRODUCTION, WITH PRODUCTION OF OTHER BASIC FOODS UNCHANGED OR SHOWING MODEST INCREASES. ¶9. FOOD IMPORT BILLS FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TRENDED DOWN DUE TO FALLING INTERNATIONAL PRICES FROM MID-90'S TO ¶2001. THE VOLUME OF FOOD IMPORTS BY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ROSE SUBSTANTIALLY DURING THE SAME PERIOD. STARTING IN 2002, THE IMPORT BILL INCREASED BY OVER 6 PERCENT (IN NOMINAL TERMS),MOSTLY DUE TO RISING INTERNATIONAL PRICES FOR WHEAT, COARSE GRAINS, OILS, FATS AND OILSEEDS. THE REPORT CONCLUDES THAT "IF RECENT INTERNATIONAL COMMODITY PRICES INCREASES ARE SUSTAINED IN 2003, AND TRANSMITTED TO INTERNAL MARKET PRICES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, THE DEMAND FOR FOOD IMPORTS IN THOSE COUNTRIES WILL BE AFFECTED NEGATIVELY." ¶10. ACCESS TO FOOD - FOCUS ON TRADE: THE ACCESS TO FOOD SECTION FOCUSES ON THE POTENTIAL OF TRADE TO CONTRIBUTE ACTION IO-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00 INL-00 USNW-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 EAP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 E-00 UTED-00 FDRE-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 L-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 CAEX-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 SAS-00 /004W R 230813Z APR 03 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9357 INFO USDA WASHDC USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USUN NEW YORK AMEMBASSY MEXICO AMEMBASSY MOSCOW UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 04 ROME 001706 SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/EDA WINNICK AND KOTOK USDA/FAS FOR REICH AND HUGHES USAID FOR CUMMINGS MEXICO CITY FOR BRAKEL MOSCOW FOR WIGGIN FROM FODAG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EAID EAGR EAID EAGR EAID EAGR EAID EAGR FAO AORC FAO AORC FAO AORC FAO SUBJECT: PREVIEW OF FAO COMMITTEE ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY 29TH SESSION TO OVERALL ECONOMIC AND AGRICULTURAL GROWTH AND THE REDUCTION OF FOOD INSECURITY. IT NOTES THAT THE BENEFITS FROM FREER TRADE DO NOT COME AUTOMATICALLY, AND HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF ASSISTING DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TO IMPROVE THEIR CAPACITY TO COMPLY WITH INTERNATIONAL FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS AS WELL AS TO PARTICIPATE IN AGRICULTURAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS. ¶11. IN THE CONTEXT OF FOOD SAFETY, THE DOCUMENT NOTES THREE INITIATIVES: FAO'S "STRATEGY TOWARDS A FOOD CHAIN APPROACH TO FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY "; THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED WHO/FAO CODEX ALIMENTARIUS TRUST FUND AND THE INTEREST IN HOLDING A SECOND GLOBAL FORUM OF FOOD SAFETY REGULATORS. THE DOCUMENT NOTES THAT A PREPARATORY MEETING ON THE SECOND GLOBAL FORUM WILL BE HELD IN JULY 2003 TO FINALIZE THE ARRANGEMENTS. ¶12. COMMENT: THE LAST CFS SESSION REQUESTED THAT THE FAO PROVIDE A "DRAFT FRAMEWORK DOCUMENT OUTLINING FAO'S STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS KEY ELEMENTS OF POLICY ADVICE, CAPACITY BUILDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND ACTIONS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN AT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS TO ENSURE ACCESS TO SAFE AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD." THE RESULTING DOCUMENT, FAO'S "STRATEGY ON A FOOD CHAIN APPROACH TO FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY" AROUSED STRONG OBJECTIONS FROM CAIRNS GROUP COUNTRIES (AND THE U.S.) AT THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE (REFTEL B),NOT LEAST BECAUSE THE FAO HAD ADDED "QUALITY" TO THE FRAMEWORK. WE EXPECT CAIRNS GROUP COUNTRIES TO RAISE THOSE CONCERNS AGAIN (AS SHOULD THE U.S.). USDEL SHOULD ALSO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED SECOND GLOBAL FORUM OF FOOD SAFETY REGULATORS. END COMMENT. ITEM IV. REPORT ON THE FIRST INTERGOVERNMENTAL WORKING GROUP (IGWG): VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON THE RIGHT TO FOOD IN THE CONTEXT OF NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY -------------- -------------- ¶13. THE CFS WILL HEAR A REPORT OF THE IGWG'S FIRST MEETING IN MARCH 2003. WE DO NOT EXPECT SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSION. (SEE REFTEL A REPORTING CABLE ON THE IGWG). ITEM V. RECENT FAO INITIATIVES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER: ANTI-HUNGER PROGRAM; INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE AGAINST HUNGER -------------- -------------- ¶14. THE CFS WILL BE ASKED TO "ENDORSE" THE FAO'S "ANTI- HUNGER PROGRAM," FIRST UNVEILED AT THE WORLD FOOD SUMMIT FIVE YEARS LATER (WFS5YL) AND REVISED FOR THE WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (WSSD). THE FAO "ANTI- HUNGER PROGRAM" ESTIMATES AN ANNUAL NEED FOR PUBLIC INVESTMENT ON THE ORDER OF USD 24 BILLION (EVENLY FINANCED BETWEEN DONORS AND RECIPIENTS, ACCORDING TO THE FAO) TO "BRING HUNGER REDUCTION BACK ON TRACK." THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT "PACKAGE" POSITS THE NEED FOR USD 5 BILLION FOR DIRECT TRANSFERS TO THE UNDERNOURISHED AND USD 19 BILLION FOR ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM OF UNDERNOURISHMENT AND RURAL POVERTY THROUGH AGRICULTURAL GROWTH AND PRODUCTIVITY ENHANCEMENT IN RURAL AREAS. FAO ALSO INTENDS TO RE-NAME THE PROGRAM "THE ANTI-HUNGER PROGRAM IN SUPPORT OF THE UN MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS." FAO REITERATED THAT THE PROGRAM IS A "PROGRAMMATIC CALL TO ACTION BY ALL STAKEHOLDERS" AND THAT THE FAO DOES NOT SEEK A NEW ROLE OR NEW RESOURCES. ¶15. COMMENT: CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER OECD MEMBERS ON THE "ANTI-HUNGER PROGRAM" HAVE SHOWN THAT MEMBERS ARE CONCERNED THAT ENDORSEMENT OF THE PROGRAM MAY IMPLY CONSENT EITHER TO THE USD 24 BILLION "PRICE TAG" OR TO A COMMITMENT TO FUND PART OF THE ANTI-HUNGER PROGRAM. END COMMENT. ¶16. UNDER "FAO INITIATIVES," THE CFS WILL ALSO BE ASKED TO ENDORSE THE "AIMS, GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND ACTIVITIES" OF THE INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE AGAINST HUNGER (IAAH). THE CFS SHOULD ADVISE ON FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS, AND INDICATE FUNDING OPTIONS (THE DOCUMENT INDICATE THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR RESOURCES TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE THE IAAH). THE IAAH, FIRST DISCUSSED AT THE WFS5YL, WOULD BUILD UPON EXISTING INITIATIVES AT NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND ACTION IO-00 INFO LOG-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00 INL-00 DODE-00 ITCE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 EXME-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 ITC-01 NSAE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 SAS-00 R 230813Z APR 03 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9358 INFO USDA WASHDC USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USUN NEW YORK AMEMBASSY MEXICO AMEMBASSY MOSCOW UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 04 ROME 001706 SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/EDA WINNICK AND KOTOK USDA/FAS FOR REICH AND HUGHES USAID FOR CUMMINGS MEXICO CITY FOR BRAKEL MOSCOW FOR WIGGIN FROM FODAG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EAID EAGR EAID EAGR EAID EAGR EAID EAGR FAO AORC FAO AORC FAO AORC FAO SUBJECT: PREVIEW OF FAO COMMITTEE ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY 29TH SESSION INTERNATIONAL LEVELS. THE EXISTENCE OF THE IAAH WOULD "PROVIDE INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR NATIONAL INITIATIVES AS PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL PROCESS OF WORKING TOWARD THE WFS GOAL." THE IAAH WOULD LINK TOGETHER STATE AND NON-STATE ACTORS (INCLUDING NGO'S AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR) IN EFFORTS TO MEET THE WFS GOALS. VI. STANDING ITEM ON NUTRITION: THE ROLE OF AQUACULTURE IN IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY AND VII. THEMATIC ISSUE: THE IMPACT OF DISASTERS ON LONG- TERM FOOD SECURITY AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION - POLICY IMPLICATIONS -------------- -------------- ¶17. THE DOCUMENTS PROVIDE PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FOR MITIGATING THE IMPACT OF DISASTERS AND DISCUSSES THE POTENTIAL OF AQUACULTURE FOR IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY. VIII. OTHER MATTERS -- THEMES FOR NEXT SESSION -------------- - ¶18. UNDER "OTHER MATTERS" MEMBERS WILL BE ASKED TO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED THEMES FOR THE NEXT SESSION AND IDENTIFY ONE FOR THE NEXT SESSION. THE PROPOSED THEMES ARE: ¶A. AN ASSESSMENT OF THE COSTS OF HUNGER; ¶B. CROP AND INCOME DIVERSIFICATION - IMPLICATIONS FOR SMALLHOLDER PRODUCTION SYSTEMS AND FOOD SECURITY; ¶C. BEST PRACTICES IN REDUCING RURAL POVERTY AND FOOD INSECURITY IN MARGINAL LANDS - LESSONS FROM SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCES IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND ECONOMIC POLICIES IN SELECTED COUNTRIES; ¶D. AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY: THE IMPORTANCE SMALL FARMER IN-SITU CONSERVATION OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES; ¶E. IMPLICATIONS OF GMO'S FOR FOOD SECURITY AND FOOD SAFETY. ¶19. COMMENT: MISSION RECOMMENDS C AS THE BEST THEME, WITH B AND D ACCEPTABLE. WE WOULD NOT SUPPORT A OR E. MISSION ALSO RECOMMENDS THAT AMONG THE THEMES FOR NEXT YEAR'S SELECTION BE ONE ON HIV/AIDS AND ITS IMPACT ON FOOD SECURITY. INFORMATION DOCUMENTS -- COST OF WFS5YL -------------- -------------- ¶20. A DOCUMENT ON THE COST OF THE WFS5YL IS INCLUDED IN THE INFORMATION DOCUMENTS. ACCORDING TO THE FAO CALCULATIONS, THE WFS5YL CONSUMED SOME USD 2 MILLION IN REGULAR BUDGET RESOURCES OF WHICH USD 463,000 WERE "DIRECT INCREMENTAL COSTS" AND USD 1,46 MILLION WERE "REDIRECTED" FROM DIVISIONS FROM WITHIN EXISTING ALLOTMENTS. ANOTHER USD 2 MILLION WAS PROVIDED BY VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM GOVERNMENTS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR. INFORMAL PANEL DISCUSSION ON THE IMPACT OF ACCESS TO LAND ON IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY AND ALLEVIATING RURAL POVERTY -------------- -------------- ¶21. THE PANEL IS CONSIDERED "OFF THE RECORD" AND WILL BE HELD ON FRIDAY MORNING (5/16) BEFORE ADOPTION OF THE FINAL REPORT. THE PANEL WILL LOOK AT SUCCESSFUL CASES OF LAND REFORM IN SELECTED COUNTRIES. PANEL SPEAKERS ARE EXPECTED FROM BRAZIL, THE PHILIPPINES, A U.S. SPEAKER FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN LAND TENURE CENTER AND POSSIBLY A REPRESENTATIVE FROM SOUTH AFRICA. HIV/AIDS PRESENTATION -------------- ¶22. THE SECRETARIAT WILL HAVE MULTIPLE SCREENINGS OF A SHORT FILM "SOWING THE SEEDS OF HUNGER" ADDRESSING THE IMPACT OF HIV/AIDS ON AGRICULTURE. WFS REPORTING -------------- ¶23. MISOFFS DISCUSSED THE DIFFICULTIES THAT COUNTRIES HAVE WITH THE CURRENT SYSTEM OF CFS REPORTING WITH NEW CFS SECRETARY MARGARITA FLORES (MEXICO) AND STAFF MEMBER DORJEE KINLAY. FLORES AND KINLAY AGREED THAT COUNTRY ACTION IO-00 INFO LOG-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00 INL-00 DODE-00 ITCE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 EXME-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 ITC-01 NSAE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 SAS-00 /005W -------------- 59C074 230817Z /38 R 230813Z APR 03 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9359 INFO USDA WASHDC USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USUN NEW YORK AMEMBASSY MEXICO AMEMBASSY MOSCOW UNCLAS SECTION 04 OF 04 ROME 001706 SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/EDA WINNICK AND KOTOK USDA/FAS FOR REICH AND HUGHES USAID FOR CUMMINGS MEXICO CITY FOR BRAKEL MOSCOW FOR WIGGIN FROM FODAG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EAID EAGR EAID EAGR EAID EAGR EAID EAGR FAO AORC FAO AORC FAO AORC FAO SUBJECT: PREVIEW OF FAO COMMITTEE ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY 29TH SESSION REPORTING WAS UNSATISFACTORY. IT WAS AGREED THAT THEY WOULD DISCUSS WITH THE BUREAU THE POSSIBILITY OF HOLDING AN INFORMAL WORKING GROUP DURING THE WEEK TO DISCUSS WAYS TO IMPROVE REPORTING ON THE WFS TARGETS. FLORES ALSO WELCOMED NEWS THAT THE U.S. WAS CONSIDERING HOLDING A "SIDE-EVENT." (FLORES EXPLAINED THAT INTERPRETATION COSTS WOULD HAVE TO BE BORNE BY THE U.S.) FLORES NOTED THAT THE SECRETARIAT HAS SOUGHT TO VARY THE CFS FORMAT WITH GUEST SPEAKERS AND SIDE EVENTS. COMMENT -------------- ¶24. THE GOALS OF THE WORLD FOOD SUMMIT ARE TO BE ACCOMPLISHED BY COUNTRIES, NOT BY INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS; THE FAO PLAYS A SUPPORTING ROLE, BUT COUNTRIES MUST FEEL MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPORTING ON PROGRESS ACHIEVED. THERE IS GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT THE CFS HAS BEEN PUTTING IN A LACKLUSTER PERFORMANCE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND ONE INCOMMENSURATE WITH THE IMPORTANCE OF ITS MANDATE. RECOGNIZING THAT THE CURRENT REPORTING FORMAT IS BURDENSOME, AND LEADS TO A HIGH RATE OF NON-REPORTING, IMPROVING THE COUNTRY REPORTING SYSTEM SHOULD BE ONE OF THE CFS'S HIGHEST PRIORITIES. HALL 2003ROME01706 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED