Brussels, 15 October 2021/OACPS: In his Opening Statement during a webinar hosted by the Brussels Office of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, to mark World Food Day, on 16 October, Secretary-General of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), H.E. Mr Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti, sent a clear message on the actions needed to end food insecurity.

Giving a brief context of the issue within the Members and Regions of the OACPS, Secretary-General Chikoti pointed out that, “Food insecurity and malnutrition continue to rise in many of the 79 Members of the OACPS. This is due to conflict, to climate change, to extreme events from natural hazard risks, to economic shocks, and the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. In Africa today, millions are hungry and undernourished and in the OACPS’ Small Island Developing States, 56% of adults suffer from obesity, with malnutrition cited as the key risk factor for the burden of their non-communicable diseases (NCD).”

The OACPS Secretary-General looked further at contributing factors, among which he cited food production and associated land-use changes and overfishing, before giving some perspectives on the measures to be taken to end hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition.

To read more of the Statement, Click HERE.