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A delegation composed of the World Food Programme (WFP) Chief Economist and Director of Analysis, Planning and Performance Division, Arif Husain, and the Director of the WFP Centre of Excellence against Hunger Brazil, Daniel Balaban, attended the G20\u2019s Second Agriculture Working Group Meeting on the 29 and 30th of April in Bras\u00edlia.<\/p>\n
The Agriculture Working Group (AWG) is an important forum for strengthening cooperation on global agricultural issues between G20 members and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda.<\/p>\n
The priorities for the AWG under the Brazilian G20 include: sustainability in agri-food systems in its multiple aspects; increasing the contribution of international trade to food and nutrition security; recognising the essential role of family farming, peasants, indigenous peoples, and traditional communities in sustainable, healthy, and inclusive food systems; and promoting the sustainable integration of fisheries and aquaculture into local and global chains.<\/p>\n
In order to frame the conversation on smallholder and family farming that was the focus of this meeting, Arif Husain provided an overview on the state of global food security, highlighting that over 700 million people are living in extreme poverty, nearly 800 million people are suffering from chronic hunger and approximately 150 million children under the age of 5 are stunted, while almost 50 million children are wasted, meaning that they are too thin for their heights.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo change this scenario, it\u2019s very important to invest in smallholder farmers and enhance their access to markets and credit. It is also important to improve their supply chains to minimize food losses. Such initiatives will improve global food security while ensuring that the smallholder farmers themselves don\u2019t suffer from food insecurity. One pertinent example of a national programme linking smallholder farmers to market is Brazil\u2019s national home-grown school meals programme and WFP is working with Brazil to implement and scale-up similar programmes in other countries through South-South and Triangular Cooperation\u201d, stated Husain.<\/p>\n