Press release
Minister McConalogue marks World Food Day 2021
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
On World Food Day 2021, 16th October, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue TD has reiterated Ireland’s commitment to fighting global hunger.
Commenting on the theme of World Food Day 2021, the Minister said:
“Our actions are our future –better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life. Food insecurity continues to rise with the impact of COVID-19 taking hunger and malnutrition to unprecedented levels across the world. Ireland, by supporting the work of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), has taken a lead in advocating for global food systems transformation, to make food systems more environmentally sustainable, providing decent livelihoods for farmers and food producers, and delivering sustainable, healthy diets for all.”
In recent months, Minister McConalogue presented Ireland’s pioneering food strategy Food Vision 2030 at the UN Food Pre-Summit in Rome and has also met the UN FAO Director General Qu Dongyu to discuss how Ireland will continue to play a leadership role in tackling food poverty.
The Minister also said,
“Our new Food Vision 2030 Strategy was developed by Irish agri-food stakeholders, including our farmers, fishers and food businesses, using a food system approach. This aligns with Ireland’s strong engagement with the recent UN Food Systems Summit. Ireland produces the highest-quality food & drink and our farmers, fishers and food businesses contribute at local, national and international level in achieving the ambitions of World Food Day for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all, and in contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Notes for Editors
**** Photo Caption – “Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, TD; speaking at the UN Food Systems Pre-Summit in Rome, July 2021”
1. For more information on: World Food Day 2021
2. For more information on: UN Food Systems Summit. Minister McConalogue was directly involved in preparations for the Summit and attended the Pre-Summit in Rome in July. President Higgins delivered Ireland’s National Statement in Rome at the UN Food Systems Pre-Summit.
3. For more information on: Food Vision 2030
4. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialised agency of the UN responsible for ending hunger and achieving improved nutrition and food security for all. FAO is the custodian of SDG 2: Zero Hunger, leading international efforts in the fight against hunger and all forms of malnutrition through improving agricultural productivity and governance, while bettering the lives of rural populations and contributing to the growth of the world economy. Further information is available at FAO. Ireland’s 2020 annual subscription to FAO was €1.64 million. Additional funding of €2.14m was also provided for specific FAO projects. Further details of the partnership between Ireland and the FAO are outlined in the report which is available at: gov.ie - Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO) + Ireland: Partnering for a Peaceful, Equal and Sustainable World (www.gov.ie).
5. Assisting some 100 million people in 88 countries, the World Food Programme (WFP) is the United Nations humanitarian organisation saving and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine leads Ireland's engagement with WFP. The Strategic Partnership Agreement between Ireland and WFP 2019-2021 is for a total of €70 million over that period.