Global conference on transformation of food system to take place next week

Illustrative image.(Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The 4th Global Conference of the One Planet Network’s Sustainable Food System Programme (SFS Programme) will be held from April 24 to 27, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) announced at a press conference in Hanoi on April 18.

The event, which will be co-organised by the MARD and the United Nations’ SFS programme, will attract the participation of 300 delegates.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep said that the conference aims to convey the message of Vietnam's agricultural brand to the world as a transparent, responsible and sustainable food supplier. It also shows that Vietnam is a responsible member in global issues including food and energy security, climate change and emerging pandemics.

According to Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director of the MARD's International Cooperation Department, the conference will review difficulties and challenges related to the transformation of the food system. It will roll out solutions, focusing on issues including models and global architecture of the food system; national policies and governance on food systems; consumption patterns and ways to implement food system transformation.

Typical models of food system transformation in a number of countries and international initiatives will also be introduced at the event, the official added.

An overview of the press conference. (Photo:hanoimoi.com.vn)

The hosting of the conference comes as Vietnam's agriculture sector is carrying out a strategy on sustainable agricultural and rural development in the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, which is based on three pillars, namely ecological agriculture, modern countryside, civilised and intelligent farmers.

Vietnam's agriculture sector is moving towards multi-value integrated development in the direction of high technology, diversity, sustainability, low emissions, rational use of resources, protection of the ecological environment and conserving biodiversity, Tuan said.

A number of sessions and a range of sidelines events will be held within the framework of the conference, including a meeting at the ministerial level hosted by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with MARD on April 25.

The One Planet Network is an open partnership chaired by the United Nations Environment Programme, aiming to promote sustainable consumption and production.

SFS is a global programme led by the UN, intending to accelerate the transition of food systems towards a more sustainable one through capacity building, synergies and strengthening cooperation between partners at all levels./.