Karina Pierce, associate professor of dairy production in the UCD, School of Agriculture and Food Science, travelled to Rome in October to attend the United Nations (UN) Committee on Food Security (CFS).
This week in Italy was just one of 10 countries that Karina travelled to this year as part of her Nuffield scholarship.
Learning about global agriculture is one element but she is also researching her study topic which focuses on future-proofing the agri food sector through robust research.
The role of the CFS is to develop and endorse policy recommendations and guidance on a wide range of food security and nutrition topics.
It is an international and intergovernmental platform for stakeholders to work together towards food security and nutrition for all.
As a result, it attracts a very broad range of stakeholders, from diplomats and ambassadors to those representing the private sector and civil society also.
The meeting Karina attended was focused on accelerating progress on the second UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) – zero hunger.
Karol Kissane 2018 Nuffield Scholar; Karen Brosnan Nuffield Ireland chair; ambassador Colm O’Floinn, Karina Pierce and Pat O’Mara 2019 Scholars attending the United Nations (UN) Committee on Food Security (CFS) in Italy in October 2019.
Karina explains to Irish Country Living what she learned during the week.
“There are 17 SDGs as part of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“They are an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – to work together to end poverty, improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth.
“This must be achieved all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.
The stark reality is that hunger is on the rise for the fourth year in a row
“The meeting highlighted the divide and misunderstanding the remains between primary food production and consumers and while the whole process at the UN can seem overwhelming, there are important policy decisions made during this annual event. These decisions will eventually impact all of us working in the agri food sector in some form or other.
“The stark reality is that hunger is on the rise for the fourth year in a row, with one in nine people in the world hungry.
“At the same time, there is a growing obesity epidemic worldwide, highlighting that having enough to eat is not the same thing as access to proper nutrition. Shockingly, one third of all food is wasted and this waste contributes 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.”
For Karina the big topics under discussion included engaging youth in agriculture, agro-ecology (applying ecological science to the design of agricultural systems) and sustainable food systems.
This she said was sustainability across the whole food chain, from producer right through to the consumer.
In my opinion we need to produce food and smaller is not always better
“While progress can seem slow when tackling such enormous topics, a very positive aspect of the meeting is the dialogue that happens between the private sector and civil society on big issues around agriculture, food and nutrition.
“While it is hard to generalise the views of civil society present at the meeting, their contribution suggested that ‘big is bad and small is good’ with regards to farms.
“And that greater resource use efficiency and the use of technology, is not transformative enough, or does not equate to ecologically friendly agriculture.
“I personally don’t agree with this. In my opinion we need to produce food and smaller is not always better. Technology is part of the solution to becoming more efficient at using resources. But the view from this group was more idealistic around food production.
“There were many references to the need for farmers to return to ‘traditional’ methods of farming and adopt more ‘sustainable’ practices. It is clear that more is expected of those producing food.
“At the same time, increased food production will be required to feed a growing world population.
The communication and translation of science to consumers has never been more important
“It seems however, that the science and technology (such as genetic modification, gene editing and the use of sensors) required to achieve this increased production, is met with scepticism.
“This raises an obvious question about the value of the billions of euros invested in research globally from both public and private sources if the results of that research are not trusted or are largely ignored.
“The communication and translation of science to consumers has never been more important.
According to Karina, what is very clear is that, the challenges we face to feed the world and do so with less inputs and greater regard for the environment, will require involvement from many stakeholders.
“Global food systems lengthen the chain between farmers and consumers and the solutions to the growing divide between primary food production and civil society lies in increased transparency.
We need to be there to ensure that discussions around sustainability include economics and social aspects, as well as an environmental focus
“This is necessary to build trust and continued dialogue focussed on the common goal of nutritious, sustainable food production.
Karina concluded saying that as most of the attendees have no experience of primary agriculture, the voice of the farmer around the table is critical to ground the discussions in reality.
“We need to be there to ensure that discussions around sustainability include economics and social aspects, as well as an environmental focus.
As a fellow Nuffield scholar told us at the start of the week, ‘The fate of the world is in the hands of the people who show up’.”
Read more
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Farmers must criticise poor animal welfare, warns Nuffield scholar
Karina Pierce, associate professor of dairy production in the UCD, School of Agriculture and Food Science, travelled to Rome in October to attend the United Nations (UN) Committee on Food Security (CFS).
This week in Italy was just one of 10 countries that Karina travelled to this year as part of her Nuffield scholarship.
Learning about global agriculture is one element but she is also researching her study topic which focuses on future-proofing the agri food sector through robust research.
The role of the CFS is to develop and endorse policy recommendations and guidance on a wide range of food security and nutrition topics.
It is an international and intergovernmental platform for stakeholders to work together towards food security and nutrition for all.
As a result, it attracts a very broad range of stakeholders, from diplomats and ambassadors to those representing the private sector and civil society also.
The meeting Karina attended was focused on accelerating progress on the second UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) – zero hunger.
Karol Kissane 2018 Nuffield Scholar; Karen Brosnan Nuffield Ireland chair; ambassador Colm O’Floinn, Karina Pierce and Pat O’Mara 2019 Scholars attending the United Nations (UN) Committee on Food Security (CFS) in Italy in October 2019.
Karina explains to Irish Country Living what she learned during the week.
“There are 17 SDGs as part of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“They are an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – to work together to end poverty, improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth.
“This must be achieved all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.
The stark reality is that hunger is on the rise for the fourth year in a row
“The meeting highlighted the divide and misunderstanding the remains between primary food production and consumers and while the whole process at the UN can seem overwhelming, there are important policy decisions made during this annual event. These decisions will eventually impact all of us working in the agri food sector in some form or other.
“The stark reality is that hunger is on the rise for the fourth year in a row, with one in nine people in the world hungry.
“At the same time, there is a growing obesity epidemic worldwide, highlighting that having enough to eat is not the same thing as access to proper nutrition. Shockingly, one third of all food is wasted and this waste contributes 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.”
For Karina the big topics under discussion included engaging youth in agriculture, agro-ecology (applying ecological science to the design of agricultural systems) and sustainable food systems.
This she said was sustainability across the whole food chain, from producer right through to the consumer.
In my opinion we need to produce food and smaller is not always better
“While progress can seem slow when tackling such enormous topics, a very positive aspect of the meeting is the dialogue that happens between the private sector and civil society on big issues around agriculture, food and nutrition.
“While it is hard to generalise the views of civil society present at the meeting, their contribution suggested that ‘big is bad and small is good’ with regards to farms.
“And that greater resource use efficiency and the use of technology, is not transformative enough, or does not equate to ecologically friendly agriculture.
“I personally don’t agree with this. In my opinion we need to produce food and smaller is not always better. Technology is part of the solution to becoming more efficient at using resources. But the view from this group was more idealistic around food production.
“There were many references to the need for farmers to return to ‘traditional’ methods of farming and adopt more ‘sustainable’ practices. It is clear that more is expected of those producing food.
“At the same time, increased food production will be required to feed a growing world population.
The communication and translation of science to consumers has never been more important
“It seems however, that the science and technology (such as genetic modification, gene editing and the use of sensors) required to achieve this increased production, is met with scepticism.
“This raises an obvious question about the value of the billions of euros invested in research globally from both public and private sources if the results of that research are not trusted or are largely ignored.
“The communication and translation of science to consumers has never been more important.
According to Karina, what is very clear is that, the challenges we face to feed the world and do so with less inputs and greater regard for the environment, will require involvement from many stakeholders.
“Global food systems lengthen the chain between farmers and consumers and the solutions to the growing divide between primary food production and civil society lies in increased transparency.
We need to be there to ensure that discussions around sustainability include economics and social aspects, as well as an environmental focus
“This is necessary to build trust and continued dialogue focussed on the common goal of nutritious, sustainable food production.
Karina concluded saying that as most of the attendees have no experience of primary agriculture, the voice of the farmer around the table is critical to ground the discussions in reality.
“We need to be there to ensure that discussions around sustainability include economics and social aspects, as well as an environmental focus.
As a fellow Nuffield scholar told us at the start of the week, ‘The fate of the world is in the hands of the people who show up’.”
Read more
When it comes to our food – we are the spoilt children
Nuffield conference: calf welfare, social licence and alternative crops
Nuffield blog: a global tour from east to west
Farmers must criticise poor animal welfare, warns Nuffield scholar
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