Outcomes from FAO’s Committees on Agriculture and World Food Security

Government Ministers and representatives from Inter-governmental, and accredited Non-Governmental and Civil Society Organizations met during April and May 2005 for both the 19th Session of the Committee on Agriculture (COAG) and the 31 st Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS).

The Committee on Agriculture, which met from 13-16 April 2005 reviewed and commented on FAO's programme of work for the Food and Agriculture Sector, specifically the Medium Term Plan 2006-2011. The Committee on Agriculture also provided guidance on several selected development issues, which FAO has been actively involved in, notably:

• Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD) and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)
• FAO’s strategy for a safe and nutritious food supply
• The globalizing livestock sector: impact of changing markets
• Bioenergy

Also meeting recently was the Committee on World Food Security, which serves as a forum in the United Nations System for review and follow-up of policies concerning world food security, including food production and physical and economic access to food. This year, the CFS met from 23-26 May 2005 tackling various issues that go from the assessment of the World Food Security Situation to the arrangements for the 2006 mid-term review of the World Food Summit Plan of Action. A specific agenda item reviewed as the progresses made by the International Alliance Against Hunger. The contributions from governments and NGOs during this discussion emphasized the value of the approach of “working together” promoted by the IAAH.

According to the final report “Rome-based agencies expressed their appreciation for the collaborations developed within the IAAH Working Group amongst FAO, IFAD, IPGRI and WFP and with the NGOs to discuss and work on achieving the World Food Summit and Millennium Development Goals. Representatives of NGOs and Civil society organisations and federations indicated their appreciation for the IAAH and their willingness to participate in it at both international and national levels. They highlighted the fact that the Alliance adds value to their own initiatives to fight hunger and poverty (awareness raising or advocacy campaigns, local projects).”

To read the background papers for the COAG 19th Session please click here.

To read final report of the CFS 31 st Session please click here.