FAO Director-General stresses digitization if small island states are to achieve their goals — MercoPress

FAO Director-General stresses digitization if small island states are to achieve their goals

Chinese biologist Qu Dongyu, who served as director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), called on small island developing states (SIDS) to rely on innovation and digitization to accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The UN official, who delivered a speech at the opening of the two-day virtual SIDS Solutions Forum (August 30-31), co-hosted by FAO and the government of Fiji, said focuses in particular on SDG 1 (No poverty), SDG 2 (No hunger) and SDG 10 (Reduced inequalities).

Heads of State and Government from nine Pacific Islands as well as African and Caribbean countries were represented at the event.

FAO is committed to building a world free from hunger and malnutrition, “where no one is left behind, regardless of land size, population and geographic location,” Qu said.

The meeting was an “example of how innovation and digitalization offer opportunities in the face of challenges”, he added.

“Advances in digital innovation have seen the vast oceans that divide us give way to vast possibilities. Alone, we are small islands. Together, we are a connected continent bound by a spirit of innovative resilience,” said Fijian Prime Minister Josaia V. Bainimarama.

“Our 39 states, from the South Pacific to the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, are home to incredible minds, cutting-edge innovation and deep traditional knowledge,” he continued.

The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives, said: “The SIDS Solutions Forum is unique. In the midst of a global pandemic, the virtual nature of the conference benefits SIDS around the world who have been hit hard by geographic isolation, travel restrictions and border lockdowns.

“The innovations, solutions and ideas that will be shared at this forum are expected to help SIDS leapfrog through expanded digitalization and innovations to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs related to agriculture, food and nutrition,” he said.

Spread across the world, small in size and sparsely populated, more than three dozen small island developing states have been hit hard by COVID-19 on multiple fronts – health, nutritional and economic. Pacific SIDS were particularly hard hit as they depended on tourism, with border closures resulting in the loss of crucial income.

Even before COVID-19 hit their economies, Pacific SIDS were already facing other challenges such as frequent natural disasters, effects of climate change, limited arable land, dependence on small-scale farming, high-priced imports and a high prevalence of non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. All of these issues have hampered their progress towards achieving the 2030 SDG targets.

The SIDS Solutions Forum has created a space for government leaders, development partners, farmers, fishers, community development practitioners and leaders, entrepreneurs, women and youth to discuss, share, promote and encourage solutions local and imported to meet the challenges posed by COVID -19 and many of those that pre-existed the pandemic. The ultimate goal is to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs related to agriculture, food and nutrition.

The two-day virtual summit took place ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in September in New York.

Digital technologies are transforming agri-food systems. Although this is an important development everywhere, it is of great importance for remote areas such as SIDS. The expansion of mobile technologies, remote sensing services and distributed computing are already improving smallholders’ access to information, inputs and markets, increasing production and productivity, streamlining supply chains, reducing operating costs and, therefore, allows farmers to earn more economically.

Robotics and artificial intelligence are examples of how digital innovation supports farmers in herd and crop management. While currently SIDS may find themselves remote from these advanced technologies, they may well be interested in learning more about these trends. Digital innovation has the potential to unlock job opportunities, close the rural divide and empower young people and women to access information, technology and markets. Sharing these rapidly evolving digital innovations will also accelerate progress towards achieving the SDGs in SIDS.

To this effect, the FAO Director-General launched the SIDS Solutions Platform during the opening session of the Forum. The platform will allow SIDS to share the many solutions and innovations that are either local or generated from similar situations elsewhere and have the potential to be scaled up.

Such a tool should help SIDS “reinforce the benefits of digital agriculture and leap forward by learning from their peers while addressing potential concerns,” Qu said. “We need science, technology and innovation to move towards more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems.

(FAO)