The 2007-2008 food crisis put instability of food prices back at the heart of debate. We need to come up with a “tool box” so that local, regional, national and international stakeholders can devise a better combination of instruments to curb price volatility and mitigate its impact without ruling out any possible paths (market tools such as insurance or long-term coverage or public action such as stocks or safety nets).

Agricultural and food systems are affected by climate change (droughts, irregular rainfall, more frequent extreme weather, new pathogens and saltwater intrusion). Efforts to adapt agricultural production to climate change and to mitigate the effects of agriculture on climate change are particularly important and have led us to rethink our agricultural production and food consumption models.

The number of cases of large-scale land acquisition is growing, with at times negative consequences on food security. France intends to address the nature and the content of the disciplines that need to be identified (respecting land rights; protecting the most vulnerable people; food security; governance; economic, social and environmental viability), the equitable distribution of wealth generated by land resources and the idea of including land issues in development assistance.

The reform of global governance is set to better address food security

The CFS reform, decided during its 35th session in Rome (14-17 October, 2009), gave rise to an open platform, bringing together the entire range of stake-holders (States and their ministries, international and regional organizations, civil society, non-governmental organizations, farmers organizations, private enterprises, foundations) to define coherent strategies for food security. Concrete action on key themes, such as volatile prices, climate change and land issues, is required for its implementation.

More can be done to modernize global food security governance

The CFS reform decided in 2009 is only one step. All the international organizations concerned by the different aspects of food security need to be more involved. Their action develops within the Comprehensive Framework for Action of the High Level Task Force (HLTF) on the Global Food Crisis, set up by the United Nations Secretary-General to address the 2007-2008 food crisis and to which France has provided financial and technical support.

Three specific institutional frameworks, dealing with issues that are particularly important to the Global Partnership for Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition, are undergoing reform and should be better coordinated with the CFS:
• The Standing Committee on Nutrition (SCN), a technical coordination committee bringing together UN agencies, Bretton Woods institutions, bilateral partners, non-governmental partners and civil society;
• The Food Aid Committee (FAC), established by the London Food Aid Convention, which today only includes food aid donor countries;
• The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), now with its own governance structure and streamlined funding methods

Updated in December 2010