On May 26^th, the International Seminar on Sustainable Food Security and Nutrition under Agriculture Transformation and Urbanization was held in Beijing. This seminar was hosted by Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) and the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), organized by Agricultural Information Institute (AII) of CAAS, and was held during celebration for the 60th anniversary of CAAS. Over 100 delegates from international organizations, foundations, universities, research institutes and private sectors attended the seminar.

With the increasing urbanization and sophisticated food systems acting on a global scale, the current transformation of the agricultural landscape brings new challenges to the sustainable food security and nutrition (FSN) at all levels. This seminar discussed the preliminary findings of the HLPE report on “Nutrition and Food Systems”, exchanged ideas on “Critical and emerging issues for FSN” under the overall perspective of the Agenda 2030.

Professor Jessica Fanzo, head of the HLPE project research team, explained how food systems determined diets and nutrition. “Urbanization changes nutrition. Because when a country gets wealthier, it‘ll start the course of urbanization; and when a country begins to urbanize, its people get fatter. ”Such problems have appeared not only in China but also in the rest of the world. “There is no country been able to stop the obesity trend”, she added. Food systems will shape consumer demands to help people fight obesity and re-gain a healthy and nutritious diet.

Mr. Chen Mengshan, director of the National Food Security and Nutrition Consultant Council and Secretary of the Leading Party Group of CAAS, Dr. Wu Kongming, vice president of CAAS, Dr. Zhang Lubiao, deputy director general of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture of P.R. China, Dr. Wang Ren, assistant director general of FAO, Dr. Patrick Caron, Chair of High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE) Steering Committee, Dr. Nie Fengying, deputy director general of AII, CAAS, and deputy director general of Center for International Agricultural Research (CIAR) of CAAS attended the seminar and made presentations. The seminar was chaired by Dr. Mei Fangquan, member of the HLPE Steering Committee, and deputy director of the academic committee of CIAR.

Dr. Chen Mengshan pointed out that with the slowing economy and the development of urbanization, new challenges arose in food security and nutrition from both supply and demand sides. He proposed a holistic approach to food, nutrition and health, endorsed China Food and Nutrition Development Program from 2014 to 2020 as a strategic vision, and made policy suggestions such as implementing grain-centered new food security strategy, promoting the nutrition-oriented sustainable agricultural production, building a safer food value chain, strengthening the nutritional support for vulnerable groups and advancing international trade and cooperation.

 

Dr. Wu Kongming said that China has played an important role in global food security and has made important contributions to eliminating poverty and hunger. Chinese agriculture driven by technology innovation is now on the track of green development. By establishing the National Agricultural Science&Technology Innovation Alliance and the Center for International Agricultural Research (CIAR), CAAS will spare no effort to strengthen collaborative innovation with the Belt and Road countries, making its due contribution to global food security and nutrition.Dr. Wu Kongming said that China has played an important role in global food security and has made important contributions to eliminating poverty and hunger. Chinese agriculture driven by technology innovation is now on the track of green development. By establishing the National Agricultural Science&Technology Innovation Alliance and the Center for International Agricultural Research (CIAR), CAAS will spare no effort to strengthen collaborative innovation with the Belt and Road countries, making its due contribution to global food security and nutrition.

Dr. Zhang Lubiao emphasized on the importance of innovative technologies for the development of agriculture. He also said that China has been devoting itself to food security and advancement of nutrition and will continue to provide investments, trainings and technology extension to other developing countries through agriculture demonstration centers and other forms of cooperation.