President Paul Kagame has said that new funding mechanisms are essential to speed up progress in food systems transformation. The move, Kagame said, is particularly important today as countries strive to mitigate effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The head of state made the remarks during the United Nations Food Systems summit that was held on Wednesday, September 23, where he virtually joined world leaders to deliberate on efforts to transform food systems. Kagame told participants that the global food system is estimated at around $8 trillion, which is one-tenth of the entire global economy. In Africa, he said, 70 percent of adults work in agriculture and agri-business sector. But our continents food systems are often fragmented and inefficient, he decried. This however represents a tremendous opportunity toward the sustainable development goals, he said. Transformation of our food systems is, therefore, a necessity including greater investment in digital technologies, biotechnology, accessible financial services, and other proven innovations. Re-thinking over-reliance For Africa, the central goal is to stop the continent’s over-reliance on food systems, end malnutrition and create jobs, Kagame pointed out. For instance, he highlighted that the Africa Union Development Agency NEPAD, has worked to facilitate an African Common Position with a number of priority tracks. Among others, the agency plans to adopt nutritious food supplies, establish food reserves, and expand school feeding programmes. Another commitment is to support local markets and food supply markets and expand trade within Africa. The agency will also work to increase agricultural financing to at least 10 percent of public expenditure. Other envisaged interventions include facilitating smallholder farmers and ensure womens access to productive resources as well as expanding social safety nets and climate data systems. Much as the commitments were laid out, Kagame asserted that accountability for advancing the actions will include regular reviews under the Africans Union Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme. New funding mechanisms can speed up progress such as the financing facility for Food and Nutrition proposed by the African Development Bank, he said. The summit he said, lays the groundwork for a renewed commitment to the broad global partnership needed in order to transform food systems and meet the Sustainable Development Goals. Now is the moment for the world to rise to this challenge, together. Various officials reiterated that the summit must be the moment when the global food systems undergo a “hard re-boot”. That means driving structural change; making tough decisions; and bringing diverse voices to the decision-making table. This need for change was underlined by a new UN report which found that almost 90% of global agricultural subsidies paid to farmers every year are doing immense harm. The report also indicated that converting land for agricultural use has led to a 70 percent reduction in biodiversity across the world.
