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National Consultations on Food Security
Doing More To
Achieve Food Security
at Home and Abroad
Background
The World Food Summit, held in Rome last November, focused the world's attention on the continuing problem of global food insecurity. The Summit is proving to be a catalyst for refocusing dialogue, recognizing and building on existing efforts to achieve food security, and identifying priorities for continued, concerted efforts.
The nations of the world adopted seven commitments as part of the World Food Summit Plan of Action. The objective of these commitments is to achieve the Summit's goal of reducing by half the number of undernourished people by no later than the year 2015.
The U.S. Government and representative non-governmental organizations held consultations on May 21, 1997, at 17 sites around the country to obtain views as to what topics, issues and possible actions should be considered in the development of a U.S. Action Plan on Food Security. The U.S. Action Plan will identify the priorities, actions, and commitments to be undertaken collaboratively by the U.S. Government and groups and sectors within the United States to achieve greater food security at home and abroad.
The 17 sites at which the May 21 consultations were held and the number of participants included: Little Rock, Arkansas (27); Los Angeles (14) and Sacramento, California (23); Fort Collins, Colorado (42); Atlanta, Georgia (28); Hilo, Hawaii (9); Chicago, Illinois (22); Ames, Iowa (77); Manhattan, Kansas (30); Minneapolis, Minnesota (113); Lincoln, Nebraska (33); Columbus, Ohio (34); Providence, Rhode Island (22); Houston, Texas (71); Everett (10) and Tacoma, Washington (24); and Washington, D.C. (152). All together, more than 700 people attended the consultations, representing U.S. Government agencies and civil society- citizen organizations, associations, or businesses that pursue interests, values, and ideas for the common good of society.
Twenty-one radio, television, newspaper, or magazine reporters attended the consultations. Twelve media outlets published articles that ran on news wires or in newspapers or magazines, while six aired coverage on radio or television stations across the country.
A meeting was held in Washington in June 5 to synthesize the results of the National Consultations. Rapporteurs from each site participated. A list of 23 consensus topics emerged from that meeting, as well as some issues and possible actions which should be considered in the subsequent development of the Action Plan. The report of the meeting follows.
Report of the
National Consultations on Food Security Synthesis Meeting
June 5, 1997 - Washington, DC
Consensus Topics for
Consideration in Developing
the U.S. Action Plan on Food Security
Priority Domestic Topics:
(1) Monitor Food Security and Nutritional Status
(2) Improve Policy and Action through Research, Evaluation, and Public Involvement
(3) Facilitate Access to Food by Vulnerable Households, Individuals, and Communities
(4) Create and Sustain Partnerships and Networks
(5) Strengthen Nutrition Education and Build Food Security Skills
(6) Develop Community-Based Strategies for Achieving Food Security
(7) Promote Awareness, Education, and Involvement in Food Security and an Understanding of Root Causes of Food Insecurity
(8) Maintain an Effective Food Security Safety Net
(9) Maintain a Safe, Nutritious, Affordable, and Sustainable Food Supply
(10) Promote Economically, Environmentally, and Socially Sustainable Agriculture
(11) Identify and Reduce Barriers to Household Economic Security
(12) Human Rights as a Framework for Food Security
Priority International Topics:
(1) Measuring Hunger and Mapping Risk
(2) Appropriate Research, Education, and Extension for Food Production and Food Systems
(3) Prioritize the Allocation of Foreign Assistance to Promote Food Security
(4) Trade, Food Distribution, and Economic Policy
(5) Health, Nutrition, and Population Stabilization
(6) Effective Use of Food Aid to Promote Food Security
(7) Maximizing and Targeting Resources
(8) Human Rights as the Framework for Food Security
(9) The Role of Women
(10) Promote Awareness, Education, and Involvement in Food Security Issues and Understanding of the Root Causes of Food Insecurity
(11) Economically, Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Agriculture
National Consultations on Food Security Synthesis Meeting
June 5, 1997 - Washington, DC
Detail
Points suggested for inclusion in preamble:
*Should include language about importance of cultural sensitivity
*Food security is a national priority
*Food security is a national security issue
*There was transparency and open participation in the process of developing the plan
*Stress on the critical role of women
*Explanation of the linages between various aspects of food security
Priority Domestic Topics:
(1) Monitor Food Security and Nutritional Status
Some issues that were raised:
*Difficult to monitor (lack of communication between grass roots organizations)
*Need data at national, state, and community levels
*Welfare reform
*Agreement on definitions
*Effective use of water, climate, and other natural resources
*Funding
*Effective use of data
Some actions that were proposed:
*Fund the necessary government surveys
*Document demand at food pantries
*Require annual status report
*Monitor prices of food and agricultural products
*Formal review process and input for surveys
*Establish protocols for collecting and aggregating information
*Research impacts of federal budget cuts on food security
(2) Improve Policy and Action through Research, Evaluation, and Public Involvement
Some issues that were raised:
*Needs assessment not being completed
*Improve policy development
*Involve local people in ownership of solutions
*Perform policy audits
Some actions that were proposed:
*Conduct food security impact analysis (NGO input)
*Develop food security index
*Involve target populations
*Continue public process (food summit follow-up)
(3) Facilitate Access to Food by Vulnerable Households, Individuals, and Communities
Some issues that were raised:
*Lack of regional commodity reserves
*Economic stimulus to developing small business
Some actions that were proposed:
*Re-establish regional commodity reserves and farmer-owned reserves
*Address the root causes of food insecurity
*Promote urban agriculture
*Establish direct marketing avenues
*Establish clearing houses for one-stop shopping for services
*Meals on wheels for children
(4) Create and Sustain Partnerships and Networks
Some issues that were raised:
*There is a problem with "turf-guarding"
*Groups in food systems are working in isolation
*Need for participation of diverse communities and groups
*Lack of participation of the private sector
*Government services inefficiently provided
Some actions that were proposed:
*Create food security alliances
*Create task forces for coordination of services, tasks
*Priority effort to increase diverse and private sector involvement
(5) Strengthen Nutrition Education and Build Food Security Skills
Some issues that were raised:
*Breast-feeding- not enough
*Lack of family planning
*Lack of gardening classes in schools
Some actions that were proposed:
*Promote breast-feeding
*Family planning information and education
*Teach gardening in schools
*Integrate nutritional education and food assistance
*Fully fund WIC
(6) Develop Community-Based Strategies for Achieving Food Security
Some issues that were raised:
*Loss of farmland
*Scarcity of water
*Lack of affordable fresh produce in low income, rural areas
*Lack of models of effective community-based food security strategies
*Effective use of volunteers
*Lack of communication between rural farmers and urban areas
Some actions that were proposed:
*Community zoning and control
*Ensure availability of water for agriculture at affordable rates
*Develop partnerships between farmers and communities
*Create markets in low income communities
*Increase community and home gardens
*Organize use of USAFRUCT, gleaning, food recovery
*Support effective, innovative models through advocacy councils and incentive grants
(7) Promote Awareness, Education, and Involvement in Food Security and an Understanding of Root Causes of Food Insecurity
Some issues that were raised:
*Lack of understanding at federal level of agriculture and nutrition
*Inaccurate information and perception around food issues
*Understanding of root causes
*Some programs not fully utilized
Some actions that were proposed:
*Develop education programs about production, processing and distribution
*Study structure of agriculture
*Make accurate information available including root causes
*Promote existing food programs
*Make use of media to focus on issues
*Study long term effects and costs of child malnutrition
(8) Maintain an Effective Food Security Safety Net
Some issues that were raised:
*Stigma attached to food program use
*Inadequate funding
*Lack of leadership and lack of opportunity to build leadership
*Safety net is a national problem (not just of low income, minority)
*Lack of local awareness of hunger
*Discrimination on the basis of citizenship and job status
*True social/economic cost of cutting welfare
Some actions that were proposed:
*Universal child feeding programs in schools
*Adequate funds
*More internship and mentoring programs to build leaders
*Create safety net for all, eliminate discrimination
*Educate policy makers
*Reduce stigma through appropriate means (credit cards)
(9) Maintain a Safe, Nutritious, Affordable, and Sustainable Food Supply
Some issues that were raised:
*Adverse effects on farmers of Farm Bill
*Global food system does not fully account for costs
*Awareness of local food systems
*Inadequate oversight of new agricultural technologies at federal level
*Aging farm population
*Diversity of small land-holders
Some actions that were proposed:
*Encourage local and regional food security
*Enable moderate/small farmers to continue to live on the land
*Encourage consumption of locally-grown food
*Conduct full cost accounting
*Allocate resources to affirm diversity of food production
*Cautious regulation of new technology; do more testing
*Promote programs to support young farmers
(10) Promote Economically, Environmentally, and Socially Sustainable Agriculture
Some issues that were raised:
*Environmental Issues need to be discussed with producers
*Not enough services and resources being provided to minority farmers, including credit
*Agricultural land being turned into suburbs
*Limited funding
Some actions that were proposed:
*National Summit linkages between environmental and agrciultural issues
*Increase funding in sustainable agriculture research, including land-grant universities
*Enact economic policies to keep farmland
*Re-fund minority farmers' rights bills
*Develop voluntary, incentive-based environmental programs
(11) Identify and Reduce Barriers to Household Economic Security
Some issues that were raised:
*Transportation issues
*Lack of child care
*Lack of job training
*Cultural arrogance
*Lack of credit
Some actions that were proposed:
*Provide basic job support
*Recognize regional variation
*On-the-job training in congressional offices
*Provide transportation, child-care, etc.
*Conduct community needs assessment
*Educate to decrease cultural arrogance- interfaith/cultural exchanges
*Develop more community-based credit unions and micro-credit
(12) Human Rights as a Framework for Food Security
Some issues that were raised:
*Human rights not restricted to citizenship
*Lack of US ratification of the International Covenent on of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
*Legal issues
*Development of concepts elaborating human rights
Some actions that were proposed:
*Ratify International Covenent on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
*Develop human rights concepts (respect, protect, facilitate, fulfill)
Priority International Topics:
(1) Measuring Hunger and Mapping Risk
Some issues that were raised:
*Definition of Food Security, Measurements, etc.
*Universally held standard needed
*Resource allocation based on need, not politics
*Too much emphasis on food availability rather than food access
Some actions that were proposed:
*Get common agreement/position on hunger and undertake lobbying to get common international position
*US take leadership to establish better measurement instruments
*Build on on-going efforts and follow up to other conferences and summits
(2) Appropriate Research, Education, and Extension for Food Production and Food Systems
Some issues that were raised:
*Agricultural intensification degrades soil and water
*Land grant universities feel they are underutilized in process of promoting sustainable agriculture
*Investment is skewed to larger producers
*Lack of participatory agricultural research and lack of emphasis on indigenous knowledge
Some actions that were proposed:
*Internationalize universities to promote economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable agriculture
*Increase funding for this effort through land grant universities
*Emphasize post harvest technical assistance
*Technology transfer should be on the basis of long term food security goals
*Work with indigenous peoples
(3) Prioritize the Allocation of Foreign Assistance to Promote Food Security
Some issues that were raised:
*Foreign assistance ineffective, lack of public confidence in foreign aid; need more grass roots participation
*Always chasing emergencies; over emphasis on military and security concerns
*Lack of good food security information in all countries
*Limited affordable financial instruments
*Not enough regional focus (sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia)
Some actions that were proposed:
*Assessment of existing programs
*More grassroots participation in program delivery
*Concentrate more on preventing emergencies
*Redirect military funding to food security issues
*Conduct food security assessments in food insecure countries
*Target and give preferential treatment to sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia
*De-centralize credit programs and financial instruments
*Develop methods to prevent and resolve conflicts
(4) Trade, Food Distribution, and Economic Policy
Some issues that were raised:
*Lack of regional commodity food reserves
*Conflicts are going to increase at international level between trade and food security
*Developing countries have no infrastructure
Some actions that were proposed:
*Encourage creation of regional and local commodity reserves exempt from world trade policy
*Create forum for a national dialogue to come to a more mature understanding
*Create environmentally sound infrastructure
*Democtraize power--develop partnerships involving private sector
(5) Health, Nutrition, and Population Stabilization
Some issues that were raised:
*Cultural attitudes between birth rates and child spacing
*Women don't always have power to make and implement decisions
*Preparation and preserving of foods
*Low rate of breast-feeding
*Lack of access to necessary financial support/credit
Some actions that were proposed:
*Educate people on health, family planning
*Integrated approach to many basic needs (including trade policy)
*Empowerment of women, including through economic independence and micro- credit
(6) Effective Use of Food Aid to Promote Food Security
Some issues that were raised:
*Sometimes food aid undermines local production
*Embargos are detrimental to food security
*Too much politics in food security policy
Some actions that were proposed:
*Mandate replenishment of food security commodity reserve
*Review US laws on transportation that restrict delivery of foodstuffs
*Share lessons learned on food aid used in emergency situations
*Anti-embargo legislation
*Do case by case assessment to assure that food aid does not undermine local agricultural production
(7) Maximizing and Targeting Resources
Some issues that were raised:
*Inefficient use of financial, institutional, and material resources
*Inadequate long-term international partnerships and networks
*Very large land holdings
*Unsustainable debt burdens
*Inadequately funded federal food security programs
Some actions that were proposed:
*Optimize financial and institutional resources
*Establish long term international partnerships for promoting food security
*Increase micro-credit lending, low income land reform
*Debt forgiveness
(8) Human Rights as the Framework for Food Security
Some issues that were raised:
*Lack of US ratification of the international covenant
*Lack of awareness of existing economic, social, and cultural rights
*Restriction of human rights only to citizens
Some actions that were proposed:
*Ratification of convention on economic, social, and cultural rights
*Take leadership role in international activities on right to food
*Develop greater understanding of dimensions of the right to food: respect, protect, facilitate, fulfill
*Make sure there is a safety net in each country
(9) The Role of Women
Some issues that were raised:
*Lack of land, water, credit, etc.
*Gender equality not incorporated in all programs
*NGO promotion of women and their rights
Some actions that were proposed:
*Promotion of NGOs and others in strengthening the role of women
*Promote women's access to resources-land, water, and credit
*Establish international role models for women (attitude education)
*Educate women on issues of trade, commerce, and land stewardship
*Promote efforts to ensure that more women are elected to public office
(10) Promote Awareness, Education, and Involvement in Food Security Issues and Understanding of the Root Causes of Food Insecurity
Some issues that were raised:
*Misperception regarding current funding levels
*Out-migration from rural to urban areas
*Lack of understanding of relationship between world hunger and U.S. national security
*Lack of appreciation that food security is everyone's problem
*Lack of understanding of root causes
*Stereotypes of the impoverished
*Lack of understanding of cultural diversity and indigenous knowledge with respect to food preferences
Some actions that were proposed:
*Educate consumers in the US as to how their spending affects others
*Increase availability of rural services
*Build understanding and respect of cultural diversity with respect to food preferences
*Utilize expertise of land grant universities to educate Congress and the diplomatic corps about food security
(11) Economically, environmentally and socially sustainable agriculture
Some issues that were raised:
*Export of genetically altered products
*Threat to peasant farmers by trade liberalization
*Promoting environmentally unsustainable practices
*Access to clean water
*Land mines are rendering large areas of land in poor countries unusable
Some actions that were proposed:
*Promote indigenous and staple foods/ Protect local bio-diversity
*Government promotion of rural development through agricultural organizations and rural coops
*US should promote water-sparing crops and non-polluting products
*Ban land mines and assist in their removal
*Develop criteria to assess food security impact
*Support for technical research for small scale farmers
National Consultations on Food Security
Synthesis Meeting
June 5, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Room 3109S, USDA
9:00 a.m. Call to order by co-chairs
Patricia Young, National Coordinator for World Food Day
Buzz Guroff, National Food Security Coordinator
9:10 a.m. Introductory comments by site representatives
[Each site will be allotted 3-4 minutes to express their views on the consultations; speakers should address the level of representativeness of the participants, of consensus reached, of commitment to the process, and the degree of individual/institution commitment to the process.]
10:00 a.m. Discussion of Priority Domestic Topics
[A preliminary list of priority domestic and international topics emanating from consultation reports will be available to the participants as a point of departure for the discussion. The objective of the meeting is to reach consensus on a list of topics, which will define the scope of the U.S. Action Plan on Food Security to be developed over the coming months, and to identify issues, possible actions and areas of disagreement which emerged with respect to each topic from the May 21 consultations. A facilitator will be available to assist the participants in the task.]
11:00 a.m. Break
11:15 a.m. Discussion of Priority International Topics
12:30 p.m. No Host Lunch in Buffet Dining Room
1:30 p.m. Discussion of Issues, Possible Actions and Areas of Disagreement with Respect to Agreed Topics
[Each agreed topic from the morning session will be discussed individually and comments from participants noted; this data will serve as input for the joint drafting teams which will be subsequently established to develop portions of the Action Plan; expressions of interest to work on drafting teams will also be noted. Consensus on this data is not needed.]
3:15 p.m. Break
3:30 p.m. Resume Discussion
4:45 p.m. Co-chairs Closing Comments
5:00 p.m. Adjourn
National Consultations on Food Security
Synthesis Meeting
June 5, 1997
Regional Site Rapporteurs
| Little Rock, AR CHERYL
MAXWELL Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families / Arkansans in Coalition Against Hunger Los Angeles, CA PATRICK
MADDEN Sacramento, CA KEN GOLDSTEIN Fort Collins, CO LAURA JOCOBY Washington, D.C. LISA SMITH JENNIFER DEC LINDA MEYERS/Kathrine McMurry LYNNE McBRIDE Atlanta, GA TIM FRANKENBERGER Chicago, IL LINDA ANDERSON Ames, IA DENISE O'BRIEN ED BEAMAN |
Ames, IA (Con't) Dr. GEORGE
BERAN Distinguished Professor of Microbiology, Immunology, Preventive Medicine, at Iowa State University MERLIN
PLAGGE HEATHER GRAY Manhattan, KS DR. ROBERT HUDGENS Minneapolis, MN BENJAMIN H. SENAUER EYVETTE FLYNN Lincoln, NE BARB RIEGE Colombus, OH ANGIE STOVER Providence, RI DR. ELLEN MESSER Houston, TX DR. SELINA AHMAD Everett, WA TOM FORSTER Tacoma, WA CAROL MARX |
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