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Hofstra University Model United Nations Conference 2019 Food and Agriculture Organization

Miranda Maliszka Chair

Dear Delegates, My name is Miranda Maliszka and I am delighted to welcome to you the 2019 Hofstra University Model United Nations Conference. I will be your chair for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). I am currently a sophomore here at Hofstra studying Environmental Resources. This will be my second year participating in HUMUNC. Last year I was a dais for the third GA Committee, the Social, Cultural, and Humanitarian Committee (SOCHUM), where we focused on human trafficking and women’s rights in the Middle East. Coming into this school year I wanted to chair a committee that was very significant to me and of international importance, a committee that would allow me to relate to my delegates during the conference while exploring an important international issue. I am from Delaware, a state where agriculture is in heavy demand, which is the main reason why I choose to chair this committee. The two topics that will be addressed within the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are Agricultural Development and Food Security and Nutrition. I believe that these two topics are very important in today’s world, especially with increasing populations and the demand for healthier and safer food. I look forward to meeting you all as well as discussing these current issues, and can’t wait to see all of the innovative ideas that will be presented at HUMUNC 2019! Sincerely, Miranda Maliszka

2 Introduction to the Committee The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) was first established as a specialized

United Nations (UN) agency in 1945 with an initiative that focuses on eliminating in a more effective way world hunger, malnutrition, poverty, as well as making agriculture more sustainable and productive.1 The FAO is made up of 194 members, two of which are “associate members” and one, the European Union, which is classified as an “organization”.2 The work of the FAO is broken down into five distinctive areas that facilitate more beneficial outcomes, including putting information within reach and supporting the transition to sustainable agriculture, strengthening political will and sharing policy expertise, bolstering public-private collaboration to improve smallholder agriculture, bringing knowledge to the field and supporting countries. The FAO’s current director-general was elected in 2011 from Brazil, José Graziano da Silva.3 Currently the United Nations is focusing on projects that are enhancing the African Network for Horticulture Development and improving pesticides and chemicals to reduce human and environmental risks. At this time, the United Nations is accomplishing its initiatives through the FAO by executing various different projects to enforce these goals. Introduction to the Topic The first concern that will be addressed in the FAO committee is food security and nutrition. By the year 2050 the world’s anticipated population will be 9.8 billion people.4 Nutrition security focuses on the concept that people have access to sustainable food that will allow them to live a healthy life. At this time, the United Nations is working to create a more sustainable world, where people will have more access to nutritious and sufficient food sources will be available for the growing global population.

3 The second subject at hand that will be addressed is agricultural development, which

focuses on availability and sustainability to manage nonrenewable and renewable resources that could potentially affect larger populations in rural areas. Within its Agricultural Development Economics Division (ESA), the United Nations is striving to implement more sustainable practices in order to protect the land as well as researching new ways to improve agribusiness. The United Nations is also developing alternative ways to decrease input costs, as well as encourage countries to use more drought-resistant crops in order to reduce the risk of famine. Topic 1: Food Security and Nutrition Food security and nutrition is one of the most prominent issues in today’s society since, according to the FAO: “There is more than enough food for everyone on the planet today; yet many people do not have the resources to purchase food in good quantity or quality…”.5 Studies show that every one out of four children under the age of five will be in jeopardy of dying from malnutrition and more than two billion people will not live a vigorous lifestyle because they lack vitamins and minerals in their diets.6 Two of the leading projects that are being executed by the FAO focus on Bolivia and Burundi, where substantial efforts being made to modify the accessibility people have to food by creating innovative projects such as the new School Food Law and Farmer Field Schools.7 The United Nations has constructed seventeen Sustainable Development goals (SDGs)8, some of which focus on terminating poverty, sustaining natural resources and ensuring prosperity. The second Sustainable Development Goal, known as Zero Hunger, focuses predominantly on food security and nutrition and one of its key aims is to “…end hunger and ensure access to all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.”9

4 According to the United Nations, presently, there are more than 815 million people

worldwide undernourished, which is equivalent to every one out of nine people and 12.9% of those people live in developing countries10. In order to achieve this Sustainable Development Goal, the United Nations estimates that it “will need an estimated additional $267 billion every year on average to end world hunger by 2030.”11 The FAO is currently funding projects aimed at achieving Zero Hunger, as well as shifting the political stigma that surrounds the issue of food security and nutrition. There are two key objectives that the FAO is focusing on in order to eliminate the political stigma, one in which the FAO supports governments and works with them to design and propose “…policies, programmes, and legal frameworks that promote food security and nutrition within and across sectors.”12 The second objective is one where the FAO advocates distributing resources needed for agricultural production and makes sure that the programmes, laws and policies being implementing have positive outcomes.13 Case Study One: Currently, FAO is mainstreaming a project that allows people to have access to safe and nutritious food by concentrating solely on building food and nutrition programmes into the educational system of developing countries. Bolivia is located between Brazil towards the east and Peru and Chile to towards the west. The FAO and the United http://www.boliviabella.com/maps.html

Nations World Food Program (WFP), in

cooperation with the Bolivian government, began to monitor and support a new school food law which “[s]ecures the right to food and provides a clear definition of responsibilities, establishing the framework for a sustainable school nutrition programme, and contributes to addressing the root causes of poverty and malnutrition by creating opportunities for farmers.”14 The law passed by the Bolivian government was inspired by the ACE Food Program, which was based on an innovative local school feeding program started in 2000, which used more nutritious local foods in meals served at schools. “And in December 2014, [the ACE program] gave rise to a 'law on school meals in the framework of food sovereignty and a plural economy'. This law bans packaged and transgenic food in schools and stipulates that these be replaced by more traditional Andean alternatives, which naturally can be grown and produced locally."15 The rates of anemia fell by thirty percent in the first eight years of ACE’s existence.16 The program provides students in approximately 389 schools with the nutrients and minerals they need in order to continue developing and to live a stable and healthy lifestyle. Some examples of the food being provided includes, but is not limited to, chocolate, fruit juice, and milk that are supplemented with iron, folic acid and vitamins such as A, B and C.17 Besides the school food law, there has also been an expansion within agricultural production due to the demand for continuously healthy and nutritious food sources from local sources. “Every day, from dusk to dawn, some 26 tons of food and beverages are distributed from production centres located in Bolivia’s highlands.”18 The implementation of these programmes have also opened the doors for different job sources and trade opportunities and has pushed students to go to school since this is the only way they can receive these meals.19 This spark in local agricultural farms has slowly begun to change the stigma that surrounds locally grown food and has assisted the United Nations when it comes to

accomplishing their goal to reduce political stigma. A 2013 law supporting family farming in Bolivia has allowed political leaders to promote local agriculture in a positive light and consider the vital role that small local farms can play in the economy. It also allows powerful legislators to consider how they can take action to bolster local farmers and their families as well as improve their lifestyles.20 Bloc Positions: Since more developed countries find the lack of connection with developing countries when it comes to accessing resources, I would recommend that developing countries stick together in order to generate support for more effective measures to be carried out. From that point, I recommend that developing countries figure out which developed countries would be willing to contribute funds to help developing countries increase their food security and nutrition numbers. Specifically, I recommend most of the countries located in southern Africa to join forces with each other and countries located in South America to explore how they can strengthen their position in negotiations. Guiding Questions for Delegates: 1. How does the FAO reach out to countries and convince them to join the fight to end poverty and increase their countries food security and nutrition numbers? 2. Would developed countries would be willing to contribute funds to help developing countries increase their food security and nutrition numbers? 3.

After reading about the Bolivia case study, what can other developing countries learn from their example?

Case Study Two: In the 1980s, the FAO created Farmer Field Schools (FFS), a concept initially targeted toward Asia but later brought to Africa.21 Farmer Field Schools are “…a learning framework where a structured group composed of 25 to 30 producers meets regularly (once a week) during the crop season in their own field (learning ground), to learn how to resolve problems related to the management of their environment and their farms.”22 Burundi is an African country currently dealing with high rates of food insecurity. Burundi is classified as a landlocked state located within the African Great Lakes region with the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west, Tanzania to the east and Rwanda to the north. Ninety percent of Burundi is reliant on https://www.countryreports.org/Canada/Burundi.htm

agriculture production and

currently “over sixty percent of the population suffers from chronic malnutrition.”23 FAO initiated Farmer Field Schools (FFS) in Burundi with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). “The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Trust Fund was established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, to help tackle our planet’s most pressing environmental problems. GEF funding to support the projects is contributed by donor countries.”24 The GEF also collaborate with, “The Ministry of Water, Environment, Spatial Planning and Urban Development (MWELPU), the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAE), as well as the

national research institute, farmer organizations, and in cooperation with other development organizations active in the intervention areas.”25 This collaboration is intended to improve food security and nutrition through the process of governmental support and technological progress. In particular, within Burundi, there has been an increase in agricultural education for both males and females as well as sustainable farming practices and an expansion of crop yields. The Farmer Field Schools project has allowed the expansion of integrated agriculture systems established in Mwaro province provides an opportunity to produce a variety of crops, fish and small livestock within a relatively small area, while increasing the availability of nutritious food.26 This project has also streamlined the operation of micro-gardens where people can cultivate their food in their own backyard and have more access to it, in a judicious manner. This project has seen more success than imaginable in Burundi, with approximately 200 microgardens and more than 49,000 fruit tree saplings planted, enhancing the stability of yields for crops.27 Even though there have been plenty of triumphs with the Farmer Field Schools, there have been some unfortunate complications that have surfaced along the way. Burundi has been tackling alarming issues when it comes to land degradation and soil impoverishment because of their dependency on agriculture. Some minor issues have necessitated the Farmer Field Schools in Burundi to be altered in order to fix the complications and make them more sustainable. Some of the new practices include, but aren’t limited to, “…erosion control measures, river bank protection, forestry plantation, agroforestry plantation, and management.”28 Therefore, the Farmer Field Schools have begun to not only open doors within Burundi, but also point out areas of weakness where policies and practices need to be revised in order to work productively within the current country of interest.

Bloc positions: I recommend to delegates that developing and developed countries work together in order to conquer this problem. In order for these types of projects to prosper they need to be funded by a country that has a strong economy and have interests in importing food grown mostly in developing countries. Since agriculture is moving a new direction with more advanced technology and equipment, you need to think of ways that developing solutions based on these trade relationships will benefit all of the countries at hand, whether that be implementing the programs into all of the countries or creating new trade rules and relationships.29

Guiding Questions for Delegates: 1. What other kinds of models similar to the Farmer Fields School can be applied in other developing countries that would allow better access to food? 2. How can the FAO facilitate cooperation among countries willing to adopt these Farmer Field Schools?

Topic 2: Agricultural Development The future of agriculture is progressing at a very rapid pace. Currently, there is a major push for agricultural development in the United States and South Africa, two countries in completely different regions of the world that heavily depend on farming. Advances in agriculture over time may also open the door to new job opportunities, as well. The degree and extent of advancements that are currently being implemented within the field of agriculture today are truly impressive. Some of these technological advancements include, but arenâ€™t limited to: genetically modified organisms, aquaculture, hydroponics, organic farming, animal husbandry, agroforestry, crop rotation, cover crops and integrated pest

management. These advancements have resulted in a decline in soil erosion, an increase in water retention and organic matter as well as a surge in nutrient availability for crops and animal/crop productivity. These are just some of the innovations and positive outcomes that have occurred due to the progress of agricultural development over the past several years. Case Study One: For several centuries, it has been no secret that the United States relies comprehensively on agriculture and frequently offers the continuous agricultural advancements that it has made to the rest of the world. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 2012 Census of Agriculture, there are 2.1 million farms in the United States, 97% of which are family owned.30 Does this match your statement can you make a broader statement like: Since the cost of living skyrocketed after the housing market crash in 2008, farm income in the United States recovered to their highest level in over 10 years, but since 2013 has been declining to levels seen during 2008.31 Currently farmers have been implementing the practices of crop rotation and cover crops. Crop rotation allows for â€œâ€Śhealthier soil and improved pest control.â€?32 The primary crop rotational practice that is highly recommended https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2015/0 3/17/family-farms-remain-cornerstone-usagriculture

above others is a seven-year cycle that includes three assorted crops: corn in Year 1, oats in Year 2, mixed

grass-legume hay in Years 3, 4, and 5. In Years 6 and 7, the field is left to pasture to replenish the soil.33 This particular cycle concentrates on increasing the amount of nitrogen within fields

and regulating the rate of crops that can be produced on the land, allowing for the reduction of soil erosion. Cover crops can be classified into two distinct categories, plant cover crops and legume cover crops. Some examples of plant cover crops farmers use include, but aren’t limited to; annual rye grass, hairy vetch, buckwheat, red clover perennials and winter rye.34 The most prevalent plant cover crop that farmers use is annual rye grass since “[g]rasses are quick to germinate and are generally more effective at controlling weeds than legume cover crops.”35 Some examples of legume crops include, but aren’t limited to; crimson clover, field peas, soybeans, turnips, velvet beans, and alfalfa.36 Some of the more advanced practices that have been put into operation within the United States include hydroponics, which is a method of, “[g]rowing plants in a water based, nutrient rich solution. Hydroponics do not use water, instead the root system is supported using an inert medium such as perlite, rockwool, clay pellets, peat moss or vermiculite.”37 Currently, there are six different types of hydroponic systems being implemented in the United States, including deep-water culture, nutrient film technique, aeroponics, wicking, ebb and flow and drip systems. The application of hydroponics has allowed for plant maturity up to twenty-five percent faster than normal maturity rates and has improved production rates by thirty percent. This innovative application relies on control of nutrient and pH levels and has the benefit of diminishing the amount of water used for farming.38 Even though there have been various advantages cited with the enactment of hydroponics, unfortunately growth time is one factor where the method does not yield an advantage. As much as hydroponics is sustainable for the environment, it is exceptionally costly, requires a lot of attention, and can kill all of the crops in the hydroponic system if not monitored appropriately.39

Bloc Positions Since most countries, whether developing or developed, struggle with implementing agricultural development practices, I recommend listening to what neighboring countries have to say their position is on using certain practices or not, and then decide how to form alliances. Regional location will play a critical role in deciding which countries would be ideal partners for developing resolutions to solve the different types of problems. Most of the countries that would be in favor of these types of agricultural development practices are from the developing world, since they need more affordable ways to practice agriculture. Some of these countries include Ethiopia, Ghana, Cambodia, China, and Jordan. In a majority of cases, once the developing countries come together to start making a change, the more developed countries will likely contribute funds to the matter at hand. Some of the funds will be channeled through international non-profit organizations that help implement more sustainable agricultural practices within those countries that are in need. Guiding Questions for Delegates: 1. Can these types of sustainable practices be applied in other countries and used as a model to continue furthering agriculture development? 2. How can the FAO facilitate cooperation among countries willing to implement more sustainable practices? Case Study Two Changes in agricultural development are one of the main priorities in South Africa, since it is highly dependent on agricultural production. Currently, there are initiatives to boost "agricultural productivity and farmers income", as well as "diversification of agriculture production systems", improved gender parity for land access and investments " to enhance

distribution to markets.”40 South Africa is in the process of implementing numerous sustainable practices which are intended to not only strengthen their food production, but is also strengthening the country’s economy. “Irrigated agriculture contributes to over thirty-percent of the gross value of the country’s crop production.”41 One of the largest projects being implemented in South Africa is the Agricultural Drought Management Plan (ADMP). The ADMP deals with drought management, as well as the implementation of new plans that would allow for new approaches to be created. ADMP focuses on three different concepts that will reduce the amount of water used during the process of production as well as the amount of water loss that occurs during the process of agriculture, agro-processing, tourism and forestry projects. Since South Africa is less technologically advanced as the United States, the South African government implements ADMP through education, training, and public awareness. The government directly educates and trains farmers through different programs that reflect the needs of a particular region or farming community. Furthermore, the government educates the public on such topics as natural resources, climate change, and exposure to certain types of crises. Since 1992, South Africa has taken a huge step to raise production rates and currently GMOs make up 1.4 million hectares.42 According to South Africa’s GMO Act of 1997 (Act no 15 of 1997) and GMO Application Process, in order to produce any type of GMO, there is a vigorous and demanding

process that starts with the submission of an application to an Advisory Council that was set up by Act. If approved, the application is sent to an Executive Council (which was also set up by the GMO Act) made up of six different governmental departments and the chair of the Advisory Council.43 The six governmental departments are: “The Department of Agriculture, The Department of Health, The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, The Department of Labour, The Department of Trade and Industry and The Department of Science and Technology…”.44 Even if the formal process is successfully completed and nothing seems out of order, there is no guarantee that it will be approved for production. Within South Africa, approval has been granted for many other types of GMOs.45 Even though the types of practices being executed in South Africa might not seem as extreme compared to the United States, they are still making an effort to move into this new era of agriculture. Besides the two larger projects being put into play there are also smaller ones being implemented in less-populated communities located in South Africa. The five primary smaller practices being implemented focus more on family farms which include the change of planting dates, row spacing, planting density, the planting of drought resistant crops and carefullyplanned cultivation choices. These current practices have many advantages which include but aren’t limited to; decreasing inputs when it comes to cost, reducing famine risk, producing more drought resistant crops and reducing water irrigation rates that doesn’t cause crop yields to decrease.46 Over time South Africa strives to continue implementing these types of practices as well as moving into a new era of agriculture helping to reduce their environmental footprint on the planet.

Bloc Positions When it comes to countries that support GMOs, you will find that the governments currently support them but it is the citizens of these countries that do not. As of 2018, there has been a significant controversy on the safety of GMOs, since they are created by altering genes in a laboratory. â€œAccording to the Pew Research Center, nearly 40 percent of Americans believe GMOs are bad for their health although their assertion is not supported by scientific research.â€?47 What people fail to realize is that GMOs have been used since 1973, but the public has only become more aware of them in the last decade as the labeling of GMO products became required by law. In most cases, countries are willing to implement GMOs because they are better when it comes to crop production rates48 and provide more benefits to countries overall. There are opportunities for developing countries and developed countries work together to create solutions. Since the seven most developed countries that currently implement GMOs are Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, The United Kingdom and the United States,49 I recommend those countries work alongside the developing countries. When it comes to minor changes in practices such as planting date changes, row spacing and planting more drought resistant crops, all countries have options to explore to achieve success. Guiding Questions for Delegates: 1. How can the FAO facilitate funds to countries in order to allow farmers access to more sustainable farming techniques in order to further develop agriculture? 2. Would developing countries be willing to contribute funds to further develop more sustainable agricultural practices and how would those practices be facilitated by the FAO?

16 3. Which sustainable farming techniques can be most easily implemented by developing countries?

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40 United Nations “Agriculture Development” http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/safrica/agriculture.pdf 41 United Nations “Agriculture Development” http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/safrica/agriculture.pdf 42 United Nations “Agriculture Development” http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/safrica/agriculture.pdf 43 “GMO Act 1997 (Act no 15 of 1997) and GMO Application Process” https://www.nda.agric.za/docs/geneticresources/Wezolimo.pdf 44 “GMO Act 1997 (Act no 15 of 1997) and GMO Application Process” https://www.nda.agric.za/docs/geneticresources/Wezolimo.pdf 45 United Nations “Agriculture Development” http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/safrica/agriculture.pdf 46 United Nations “Agriculture Development” http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/safrica/agriculture.pdf 47 Nowatzki. Genetic Literacy Project. “GMO Controversy is a political debate, not a food safety issue, farmers say” 2018. https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2018/09/24/gmo-controversy-is-apolitical-debate-not-a-food-safety-issue-farmers-say/ 48

Rangel & Maurer. SITN. “From Corgis to Corn: A Brief Look at the Long History of GMO Technology” 2015. http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2015/from-corgis-to-corn-a-brief-look-atthe-long-history-of-gmo-technology/ 49 “Classification” http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/policy/wesp/wesp_current/2014wesp_country_classifica tion.pdf