November 15, 2022
This article was originally published in Villagerspost.com and is translated here for convenience.
Jakarta, Villagerspost.com – The Global Food Security Forum has been held in Nusa Dua, Bali. The forum resulted in an agreement that decision makers including governments and industry, particularly G20 members, need to step up partnerships between governments and private parties to address the world’s various food and energy security challenges.
“Our goal is to provide food for 8 billion people around the world,” said Minister of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto, in a press release received by Villagerspost.com, Monday (11/14).
Prabowo conveyed this to more than 300 government representatives, business leaders, experts, and the general public who participated in the Global Food Security Forum. “However, the challenge is food availability and affordability of food prices. The challenge is that only a few countries have sufficient supply of protein and calories,” Prabowo added.
In his speech, Prabowo also invited all stakeholders to collaborate to achieve the zero hunger target around the world, in line with Sustainable Development Goal number two.
The two-day forum called pandemics and geopolitical conflicts two major global food security threats that hinder food production and distribution, increase global inflation, and create uncertainty that paralyzes the world.
“From a business point of view, I strongly agree with Mr. Prabowo and other forum participants that the challenges of world food security today are so big and diverse. However, increased government and private partnerships can push us towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal number two,” said Gaurav Srivastava who leads the Gaurav & Sharon Srivastava Family Foundation.
Gaurav hopes that solutions to global food security issues discussed in this forum, such as financing for emergency food reserves, financial support for the World Food Program and wheat supply, and the establishment of business associations that are able to unite food needs to reduce supply costs, can be realized immediately through increasing partnerships between governments and private parties.
In the long run, forum participants also called continuous dialogue between G20 member countries important to anticipate future food security challenges. G20 member countries are also expected to carry out agricultural extension services to encourage the continued creation of innovation and environmentally based food security solutions.
‘Everything that has happened in the world in recent years is a reminder that food and energy security issues are interconnected, can happen at any time, and have an impact on all humans on earth,’ Gaurav said.
‘Our foundation believes that this forum agreement to enhance government and private partnerships is an important step towards ensuring global food security,’ Gaurav said.
He emphasized that the foundation will continue to commit to bridging the partnership between the government and the private sector in overcoming food security challenges. “All industries related to this issue, including the banking, insurance, logistics shipping, oil, and food industries need to work together to achieve equal access to food around the world,” concluded Gaurav.
