Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and 30 international partners signed an agreement to transform the food system to be transparent and accountable.

Overview of the 44th World Food Day celebration held at Fortuna Hotel (Hanoi) with the direct participation of about 150 delegates and combined online participation nationwide. Photo: Nghia Le

Also on this occasion, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development announced and implemented the Project to promote international cooperation in agriculture and rural development to 2030, with a vision to 2050. Signed the Agreement to establish the Vietnam Food System Transformation Partnership (LTTP) and launched the United Nations Joint Program in Vietnam on "Promoting innovation in partnership and financing mechanisms for food system transformation in Vietnam".

The 44th World Food Day 2024 with the theme: "Access to food for a better life and future" is an opportunity to widely share global commitments to ensuring access to adequate food for all, through sustainable and equitable food systems transformation.

At the ceremony, Mr. Rémi Nono Womdim, FAO Representative in Vietnam, said: "Even in high-income economies , many people still choose convenience foods, although they are not healthy. Therefore, I would like to emphasize the importance of food diversity, because it is essential to ensure adequate nutrition, access and affordability of food, as well as ensuring food supply for all."

Mr. Rémi Nono Womdim, FAO Representative in Vietnam emphasized "The right to access food for a better life and future". Photo: Nghia Le

Food is the third most important basic human need after air and water. However, not everyone in the world today has access to LTTP to live a healthy life.

Today, 733 million people in the world face hunger and more than 2.8 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet. This is largely due to conflict, extreme weather, inequality and economic downturn.

Malnutrition in many forms exists across all levels of society, making access to healthy food more difficult.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan emphasized: "Vietnam's agriculture plays a particularly important role in ensuring food security, social stability and livelihoods for more than 60% of the population living in rural areas, contributing 12% of the country's GDP. However, the agricultural sector is also facing many challenges such as smallholder farming, climate change, market fluctuations and global consumption trends."

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan attended this event with the desire to integrate Vietnamese agriculture into the world and mobilize human resources, technology, finance, and attract investment from outside to serve the rapid and sustainable development of Vietnamese agriculture and rural areas. Photo: Nghia Le

The Minister also affirmed the need to promote international cooperation in the agricultural sector to overcome these challenges. He said that the Government has approved the Project "Promoting international cooperation in agriculture and rural development until 2030, with a vision to 2050". The project aims to develop sustainable agriculture, responsible for both people and nature, and promote international integration.

"We are ready to cooperate with international partners comprehensively, diversify partners and promote international cooperation in agriculture in a practical and effective manner," the Minister further emphasized.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in coordination with the Ministries of Health, Industry and Trade, Natural Resources and Environment and more than 30 international partners, signed the agreement "Partnership for the transformation of a transparent, responsible and sustainable food system in Vietnam".

The partners signed cooperation agreements within the framework of the Food System Transformation Partnership, marking their commitment to jointly promote sustainable development for the food industry in Vietnam. Photo: Nghia Le

The main objectives of the Partnership include building a multi-sectoral connectivity mechanism to leverage the strengths of each partner in transforming the food system; enhancing capacity and sharing experiences in policy, investment and research. In addition, mobilizing resources to develop input supply systems, develop production, develop processing and distribution systems, promote responsible consumption practices, ensure healthy diets, and contribute to ensuring food security and nutrition for the Vietnamese people.

On this occasion, the United Nations in Vietnam also launched the Program “Promoting Innovation in Partnership and Finance for Food System Transformation in Vietnam”. This program aims to build a strategic partnership mechanism for food system transformation, improve the efficiency of agricultural financial management, and strengthen national capacity in implementing sustainable solutions.

“I am confident that this partnership will set a new benchmark for innovation in agricultural systems – not only in Viet Nam but across the region,” said Patrick Haverman, UNDP Resident Representative.

Minister Le Minh Hoan also emphasized: “Together we will create new values ​​for 'Access to food for a better life and future'. The future is not something we predict, but something we build together. Do not hesitate when faced with opportunities. The future always belongs to those who dare to face challenges”.

"The transition to a new LTTP system is just the first step, we also need to ensure that the technical groups presented during the event are established, and that the responsibilities of partners are clearly established. In this regard, FAO will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and relevant stakeholders to implement the National Action Plan for a transparent, accountable and sustainable LTTP transition in Viet Nam by 2030, with the motto of leaving no one behind," said Mr. Rémi Nono Womdim, FAO Representative in Viet Nam.

The Signing Ceremony of the Agreement to establish the Partnership for Transformation of a Transparency, Responsibility and Sustainability of Food Systems in Vietnam took place on October 18, 2024 in Hanoi, with the participation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, FAO and international and domestic partners. Photo: Nghia Le

FAO remains committed to working closely with Viet Nam to transform Viet Nam’s food system together, so that Viet Nam can accelerate its transition towards more efficient, inclusive and sustainable food systems, better production, improved nutrition, better environments and better quality of life for all, leaving no one behind.

Source: https://danviet.vn/bo-nnptnt-cung-30-doi-tac-quoc-te-ky-ket-thoa-thuan-chuyen-doi-he-thong-luong-thuc-thuc-pham-minh-bach-trach-nhiem-20241018175156533.htm