2018 Global food policy report: Synopsis [in Arabic]

The year 2017 unfolded with a striking paradox: a robust global economic recovery coexisting with an unsettling rise in global hunger. Amidst persistent conflicts, devastating famines, and escalating refugee crises, the world witnessed a concerning shift away from decades of global integration, a trend that had previously fueled unprecedented reductions in poverty and malnutrition. This retreat from interconnectedness, characterized by events such as the withdrawal from major international agreements, significant political shifts, and a surge in anti-immigration rhetoric, cast a long shadow over the prospects for food security.

The growing tide of anti-globalization politics and policies presented formidable threats to the ongoing efforts to eradicate hunger and malnutrition worldwide. Protectionist trade measures, the looming specter of reduced international investments, increasingly stringent border controls, and restrictions on the free flow of knowledge and data emerged as significant impediments. Furthermore, stalled agricultural policy reforms and weaknesses in global governance structures compounded these challenges, undermining the very mechanisms that had driven progress in the global food system.

Despite these daunting challenges, the path forward lay in strategically harnessing global integration to forge an open, transparent, sustainable, and inclusive food system that champions the well-being of both people and the planet. Policies that champion open trade, facilitate migration, and encourage the sharing of knowledge have historically been instrumental in diminishing hunger and poverty. Indeed, the preceding years demonstrated that increased global trade could enhance food availability, reduce costs, and diversify access to nutritious foods, while also stimulating agricultural production and broader economic growth in regions with comparative advantages.

International investment, when directed thoughtfully, held immense potential to fortify local food security and improve food systems in developing nations. Similarly, the movement of people, both voluntary and involuntary, played a complex but often beneficial role in enhancing food and nutrition security for migrants and their families, as well as for both host and source countries. This human history of migration, a powerful force for progress, stood in stark contrast to the restrictive narratives gaining traction in many parts of the world.

The proliferation of open data and enhanced access to information offered fresh opportunities to revolutionize agriculture and bolster food security. By enabling evidence-based decision-making and fostering greater transparency, these resources could galvanize the political will necessary to address complex food policy issues. Moreover, reforms in the farm support policies of developed countries were crucial, as existing protective measures often depressed global prices, placing undue competitive pressure on low-income farmers in less wealthy nations.

Ultimately, achieving sustainable food and nutrition security for all demanded a renewed commitment to global cooperation. The world continued to face multifaceted threats from political and economic instability, ongoing conflicts, and the undeniable impacts of climate change. Only through collaborative efforts, underpinned by robust evidence, sound governance, and unwavering international resolve, could the global community effectively navigate these complexities, mitigate the risks associated with anti-globalization, and leverage the profound benefits of interconnectedness to meet the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals.