JULY 2020
FOCUS ON FOOD SYSTEM RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY
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The world has been dealing with the COVID-19 crisis over the past 6 months, including the immediate issues of food supply chain resilience, along with the greater risk of hunger and food insecurity. These issues in turn have highlighted the urgency of addressing the pathways to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), especially SDG 2 to end hunger and malnutrition in all its forms and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030.
A recent report from the High-Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE), the science-policy group of the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS) has shown the multiple and complex challenges facing food systems, requiring data and actions from numerous parties which will need coordination to achieve optimal results.
Food supply systems are directly operated by private stakeholders, from small scale farmers and food processors to large agriculture farms and trading, food processing, and distribution. This sector has experienced an adverse impact from supply chain disruptions yet shown resilience during this crisis. While playing a vital role in managing the current crisis to meet consumption needs, investing, on-going adaptation, and transformation of the sector will be key to future improvement in assuring food quality and security.
Two eminent speakers and a panel of experts will further explore challenges and opportunities for long term sustainability and resilience of the food system.
Click on their photo to read their bios.
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Prof Martin Cole, Head of School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Australia
Chair, HLPE- Committee on Food Security and Nutrition of the UN Committee on World Food Security
- Insights on strategies, innovative approaches, highlight, technologies and drivers of change towards achieving sustainable food systems.
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Mr. Axton Salim, Director for PT Indofood Suskes Makmur Tbk, Indonesia
Global Co-Chair of Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Business Advisory Group
- Perspectives on leadership and commitment of private sector in addressing COVID-19 challenges, sustainable food system efforts, as well as commitment on nutrition improvement for the global vulnerable populations
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Prof Shenggen Fan, Chair Professor of China Agriculture University, China (Former DG of IFPRI, US)
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Prof Vish Prakash, Professor, Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, India
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Mr Melvin Chow, Senior Director of Food Supply Resilience Division, Singapore Food Agency, Singapore
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Moderator:
Mr Geoffry Smith, President, ILSI SEA Region, Singapore
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RELEVANT UPDATES & PUBLICATION
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World Health Organization Update, July 23, 2020
With total global reported cases crossing 15 million and deaths at 63,000, the WHO Director General Mr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized in a briefing on July 23, 2020 that political leadership and community engagement are the two vital pillars of the response. Saying that the pandemic has already changed the way we live and the ‘new normal’ is finding ways to live our lives safely while taking evidence-based decisions to protect their own health and that of those around them. With the likely protraction of the pandemic, WHO has issued guidance to countries to conduct periodic review of their national and subnational responses.
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Georgetown University have launched the COVID-19 Law Lab, a database of laws that countries have implemented in response to the pandemic, not to coerce, but to protect health while protecting human rights. Read more.
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COVID-19 and Its Accelerated Action and Transformative Pathways: Realizing the Decade of Action and Delivery for Sustainable Development
The above theme set the stage for the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development 2020, held from July 7-16, 2020, as the core UN platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Participating officials at the Senior Minister Forum discussed and reviewed their countries responses to the pandemic. They also reflected and called on the international communities to respond in ways to COVID-19 that will help put the world back on track to achieve the SDGs and accelerate progress during the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development. 47 countries carried out voluntary national reviews (VNRs) of their implementation of the 2030 Agenda in the 2020 HLPF. For more details, please click here.
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The Number of People Facing Acute Food Insecurity Could Increase to 265 Million by End of This Year
As the crisis continues to unfold, global food security situation is a growing concern. In remarks delivered to the UN Security Council on April 21, UN World Food Programme Executive Director David Beasley said, “In a worst-case scenario, we could be looking at famine in about three dozen countries.” This article explains the increase of global food insecurity and the spikes of food price. Read more. You may also refer to the FAO Food Price Index here.
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RECENT ILSI ASIA COVID-19 Webinars
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COVID-19 and Its Impact on Food Supply Chains
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the food systems to varying degrees of disruption across Asia, as well as globally. The impact could possibly shape the agriculture, food production and food processing industries for future decades, with sustainability gaining greater concern and focus. This webinar highlighted the responses and policies implemented by the governments in Asia during the initial and current period of the pandemic, supply chain issues, as well as food system challenges in Asia while considering the way forward towards mitigating potential long term effects. A paper from this webinar has been submitted for publication in an international journal. A video recording of the webinar is available here:
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Harnessing the Potential of AI in Biomedical Sciences and Nutrition Research
The implementation of containment strategies that comprise commanding multisectoral participation and community engagement provided examples of successful and effective reduction of the spread of COVID-19. Three key scientists from China, Korea, and Japan shared their respective country’s experience and use of digital tools and potential of AI in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. The historical and initial research evidence have point to promising progress for the development of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine while nutrition strategy is being further explored. If you missed the webinar held June 16, a video recording of the webinar is available here:
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RECENT WEBINARS OF REGIONAL INTEREST
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The Impact of COVID-19 on Food Security and Nutritional Status in the ASEAN Region
Organized by SingHealth-Duke-NUS Global Health Institute, this webinar held on July 15, 2020 is the 3rd in a series of 5 that address the Impact of COVID-19 on Health and Health Equity in the ASEAN Region. An eminent panel of 5 scientists, from UN agencies based in ASEAN, academic institutions, government and private sector explored the short and long term impact on maternal and child nutrition, the associated economic downturn impacting food security and the potential measures countries in the region can take to decrease the impact on the pandemic on undernutrition.
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ILSI SEA REGION'S EVENTS-AT-A-GLANCE
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Jul 30, 2020
ILSI ASIA COVID-19 Webinar Series: Food System Resilience and Sustainability
GotoWebinar
OPEN FOR REGISTRATION
https://ilsisea-region.org/
Aug 18, 2020
Seminar on The 3 S's Subjects of Interest: Salt, Sugar and Sleep
Manila, Philippines
https://ilsisea-region.org/
3rd Quarter 2020
ILSI SEA Region Science Symposium: From Nutrients to Food Systems - Science and Communication
Singapore
https://ilsisea-region.org/
Oct 2020
Webinar on Nutrition Labeling & Claims
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Oct 28 & 29, 2020
Webinar on Whole Genome Sequencing
Stay tuned for more details.
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4th Quarter 2020
Seminar and Workshop on Capacity Building for ASEAN National and Appointed Analytical Laboratories
1st-2nd Quarter 2021
11th Seminar and Workshop on Nutrition Labeling, Claims and Communication
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
1st-2nd Quarter 2021
Seminar on Nutrition and Aging
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2021
Regional Symposium on Physical Activity, Nutrition & Health Impact
2021
Seminar on Low and Non-Caloric Sweeteners
Jakarta, Indonesia
2021
Workshop on Nutrition Labeling in Vietnam (By Invitation Only)
Vietnam
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