Pacific Food Summit Paper

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FAO/SPC/UNICEF/WHO/PIFS 12 May 2009

A Pacific Food Summit 2010:Facilitati ! Actio fo" a Food S#cu"# Pacific

A food $#cu"# Pacific

Globally, we are being exposed to increasing food prices, fuel price upheavals, unstableeconomic conditions and climate change which are affecting availability and access to sufficient,safe and nutritious food.

Pacific Island countries and Territories (PICTs in particular are being adversely affected. Theseglobal influences are increasing food prices, exacerbating an already heavy reliance on importedand processed foods and contributing to the loss of local harvesting, production and cultural!nowledge. In addition, they also create uncertainty around food supply. "s a conse#uence,Pacific populations are at greater ris! of malnutrition, foodborne diseases and non$communicabledisease (%C& .

These challenges demand a coordinated and multi$sectoral response, involving public$private

partnerships, if food security is to be achieved in the Pacific. 'uch a response also provides auni#ue opportunity to address malnutrition, foodborne diseases and %C&s simultaneously.icronutrient deficiencies can be reduced through consumption of traditional staples and

fortification, food safety standards can protect Pacific populations from foodborne diseases andfood and advertising standards can reduce the amount of fat, sugar and salt consumed, loweringthe ris! of %C&s. "ddressing multiple health outcomes through the modification of a common ris!factor becomes increasingly important for developing nations as they progress through thenutrition transition. It will also strengthen Pacific economies and shield against future food crises.

Pu%lic alt& a d t"ad# co c#" $ t&at "#'ui"# a Pacific Food Summit 2010

1( Food $u))ly a d $#cu"ity i t Pacific

)ood security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access tosufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an activeand healthy life. )ood security is multi$dimensional, ta!ing into account food availability (sufficient#uantities, appropriate #uality , access (ade#uate resources for ac#uiring appropriate foods for anutritious diet , stability (no ris! of losing access to food as a conse#uence of events such aseconomic or climatic crisis and utili*ation (essential non$food factors such as clean water,sanitation and health care .

)ood security in the Pacific, as elsewhere, is facing new challenges as global mar!ets experiencedramatic increases in food prices. The )"+ index of food prices rose by - in //0, by 1- in

//2 and by 34- in the first months of //5. The increase has affected nearly all foodcommodities, to different degrees. )"+ forecast that the world would spend more than /- more

on food imports in //5 than in //2. ()"+, )ood +utloo!, ay //5 This will severely strain thebudgets of low$income food$deficit countries that are li!ely to see their import bills soar by morethan 1/- in // . Pro6ections suggest that food prices are li!ely to remain high in the next fewyears.

PICTs are particularly vulnerable as they tend to be net staple food importers. Perhaps moststri!ing is their heavy dependence on imported cereals as a source of dietary energy and protein.7emar!ably, rice and flour have now replaced root crops as the single most important source of starch and energy in Pacific Island Countries. "ll PICTs, apart from )i6i, P%G and 'olomonIslands, rely exclusively on cereal imports, indicating their high vulnerability and dependency.

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"nother indicator of vulnerability is the high food import bill, which is increasing as a proportion of total export earnings. This indicator provides a measure of capacity to import food and in manycountries it is declining. In some, eg Tuvalu, 'amoa, 8iribati and the Coo! Islands, the value of food imports has exceeded that of total exports.

)ood security is further impacted by the volatility in the global price of oil, and as this region is anet importer of oil, this has had a significant impact on local food production costs as well astransport costs for imported food. The combined impact of these factors has mar!edly increasedthe vulnerability of these island communities.

The ris! to food security in the Pacific has been recogni*ed at the highest political level. "t therecent Thirty$%inth Pacific Islands )orum, held in %iue from 4 $ / "ugust //5, )orum 9eaders:ac!nowledged the high importance of food security as an emerging issue which poseschallenges for the future well being of people across the region; and :called on all countries tomaintain open mar!ets and, where possible, to increase the production and supply of healthyfood;. 9eaders :committed their governments to immediate action to address food security issuesnationally and where possible regionally through a range of measures across !ey sectors such asagriculture, fisheries, trade and transport; 4.

2( Food 'uality a d t "#lat#d dou%l# di$#a$# %u"d# :

a( * %u"d# of NC+ i t Pacific a d food t"ad# , ma"-#ti !

The populations living in Pacific island countries and territories have some of the highestprevalence of obesity and type diabetes in the world (based on


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inspection and certification services, and laboratory services . Compliance with international foodsafety and #uality standards is necessary not only to gain mar!et access for export commodities,but also to supply the lucrative tourism industry within Pacific island countries, as well as for thewell$being of the local population. Controlling the safety of imported food is also an enormouschallenge for the small island states and areas of the Pacific. Consumers are often exposed tofood that is sold after its specified use$by date andFor has undergone temperature abuse beforeor during distribution to the Pacific.

The )"+F


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W&at ill t Food Summit ac&i# #

The )ood 'ummit will culminate in a Pacific +#cla"atio o Food S#cu"ity endorsed at thehighest level of government and supported by industries that supply and produce food. The&eclaration and accompanying )ramewor! for "ction will include a clear set of strategies andactions to address food security, #uality and safety in the Pacific.

Intended outcomesD 7ecognition and ac!nowledgement of the magnitude of the problems@ " commitment to addressing the issues (a signed &eclaration and )ramewor! for "ction @ Practical and achievable strategies for the assurance of food and nutrition security, for the

prevention of %C&s and micronutrient deficiencies@ and for facilitating trade in andmar!eting of safe and nutritious food@

" collective approach for accelerating the management and control of these issues@ and 7esources identified for implementing strategies through increasing budgetary

allocations@ a commitment from development ban!s and other potential partners@ andFormore private sector investment.

The &eclaration aims toD

(4 "ssure food security in the Pacific@( 7educe diet$related non$communicable diseases (%C&s and micronutrient

deficiencies in the Pacific and@: )acilitate trade in and mar!eting of safe and nutritious food.

"ccompanying the declaration will be a F"am# o"- fo" Actio it& t follo i ! $t"at#!i#$ D

4. Improve )ood 'ecurity and 9ivelihoods through enhanced and sustainable production,processing and trading of safe and nutritious food in Pacific Island Countries

. " Common Pacific Island 7egulatory "pproach to )ood 9egislation, including'tandards to Promote Trade and =ealth

?. Industry "dding =ealth alue in the Production, Processing, ar!eting and&istribution of )ood in the Pacific

1. >ffective and Consistent >nforcement of )ood 'tandards across the Pacific

3. 'trengthen food and nutrition monitoring capacity in PICTs to ensure timely availability ofreliable and relevant information on all aspects of food and nutrition

0. 'trengthened leadership, regional cooperation and funding on food security in the Pacific

W&at $t#)$ &a # %## ta-# $o fa" to a"d t Food Summit

The 'ummit builds on a range of coordinated lead$up activities that have bought recognition toissues and laid the foundation.

4. Government, %G+ and Industry eetings

4. The eeting of Mi i$t#"$ of H#alt& ld i Po"t 3ila 3a uatu , in //2 identified the needto apply a :whole$of$society; approach to %C& prevention and control@ identified the need for a regional approach to food fortification@ and called for a )ood 'ummit with representativesfrom =ealth, "griculture, Trade and )inance.

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1. )ood 'ecure Pacific ()'P )F

Pacific Food Summit Paper

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