Topic: 2024-GMOs and Food Security
Country: Belgium
Delegate Name: Olivia Sokol
Committee: ECOSOC
Topic: Food security
Delegate: Olivia Sokol
School: Williamston High School
The ability to maintain efficient security on food and agricultural resources is crucial for the citizens of a country. Food security has been seen as a global issue, and directly affects the rate of food, jobs and economic growth in a country/society. The access to quality food and nutrients is fundamental to all human existence. Shifts or changes in the global economy such as inflation, can affect food security around the world, especially in developing countries. There are many countries around the world that suffer from food insecurity such as Afghanistan and Mali. It is important to measure food security within a nation to target the food and financial aid it may need. To help aid the developing countries, there are many worldwide non-profit organizations such as the Food and Hunger Organization (FAO), UNICEF, and the World Food Programme (WFP).
Previously Belgium has taken significant steps in helping not only itself, but other countries as well. In 2021, the Belgian Development Cooperation spent $142 million euros on agricultural and food security. Within the $142 million, $41 million of that went directly to humanitarian aid, and $5 million went into food aid. The government of Belgium also donated 7.5 million euros ($8.1 million USD) to the WFP in response to the rising food needs in Ethiopia, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Syria. Belgium’s support has been crucial for these countries, not only providing funds for national food spending but also giving to the vulnerable citizens and refugees that desperately need immediate help. Without Belgian support, many families of various countries would not be able to get the resources and food they need for survival. The WFP and Belgium have established a solid partnership, and have taken a collaborative approach in their goals and funding. In total, Belgium has donated a total of $32 million USD to the organization, becoming one of their largest donors.
In the future, Belgium will continue to support the WFP and continue to set aside money for food and humanitarian projects and aid. To help achieve the goal of establishing food security everywhere, there have been many implications for different types of experimental food systems for the capital region in Brussels, Belgium. The plan includes 7 themes and 15 different actions to help food systems and sustainability in the future. The hopes are to have these plans effectively running by 2035. This will initially help domestic food security, a sustainable food supply, increase local food production, and to help the food economy. It would be beneficial to have a joint support of the top WFP donors such as Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, and the United States of America to help stop this global issue altogether.
