FAO at the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture 2023

The Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) is an international conference on central issues of global agricultural and food policies, held in Berlin on an annual basis. At the 2023 edition, 2000 visitors from politics, business, academia, and civil society will discuss in Berlin how to bring about successful transformation of global food systems. The 2023 GFFA is set to build on the UN Food Systems Summit for this process. Events of the Global Forum, with the exception of the Conference of Agriculture Ministers on Saturday, 21 January, are public and can be attended at no cost with prior registration.

FAO will participate in the GFFA at many levels, including the following events.

Expert panels

Financing sustainable transformation in the agrifood systems: Gaps and opportunities (19 January, 4:00 p.m.)

Agrifood systems across the world offer a unique opportunity to address climate change. During this expert panel, speakers will provide concrete examples of actions both at farm and country level that can support adaptation in the agrifood systems and maintain a 1.5-degree pathway whilst supporting food and economic security, with a focus on the three pillars of Food and Agriculture for Sustainable Transformation Initiative, namely access to climate finance, knowledge and capacity, and policy supports and dialogue.

Is the Codex system fit for the future? (20 January, 9:30 a.m.)

While the Codex Alimentarius Commission’s mandate to protect consumers’ health and to ensure fair practices in food trade has never been this important, are both its processes used and results fit for the challenge of a rapidly changing world? This session will bring together representatives from the areas of standard setting, science, trade, and industry to address these and discuss what is needed to ensure that Codex is sufficiently flexible to adapt to current demands and contribute to a sustainable food system for the future.

Leveraging urban and local food systems for sustainable food systems transformation (20 January, 11:30 a.m.)    

With 70 percent of global food consumed in urban areas, the role of cities and patterns of urban consumption are becoming extremely important for food systems transformation. The expert panel will try to identify innovative ways for strengthening the role and function of urban and local food systems to sustainable food systems transformation by looking at recent trends and new sources of data and information. It will also look at forms of food systems governance to support the role of urban and local governments.

Innovation Forum

Two FAO stands at the GFFA Innovation Forum will present the Organization’s efforts to help strengthen the link between science, research and development, and facilitate the development and scaling up of innovation processes (such as Codex Alimentarius, Farmer Field Schools, and the Hand-in-Hand geospatial platform). Further innovative tools include WaPOR to monitor agricultural water productivity through satellite data, eLocust3 – an innovative technology to improve early warning of possible locust outbreaks –, and the Digital Village Initiative for gender-sensitive rural development and sustainable agrifood transformation. FAO’s Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment will also be represented that leads efforts to promote climate change adaptation and mitigation in agrifood systems at local, national and international levels. Its representative will present projects that support national and local partners in implementing and accelerating actions towards climate-friendly agrifood systems. More information here and here.

Register