As part of a series of public discussions leading up to the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2), the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization hosted a dialogue on October 14 in Rome about the critical role public-private partnerships in fighting malnutrition. The well-attended event convened representatives from member states, the private sector and civil society to raise awareness of global nutrition issues and catalyze support for partnerships. Dr. Nancy Stetson, special representative for global food security at the U.S. Department of State, noted that partnerships are necessary to reduce global hunger and malnutrition.
Louise Kantrow, ICC’s permanent representative to the UN, made a strong case for engaging the private sector as a full partner in deciding strategies for addressing malnutrition, since business is involved throughout the entire agriculture supply chain, from seeds to food processing to all the products farmers need to grow and distribute food.
“The UN has recognized that the problems confronting the global community now know no boundaries and all actors in society must come to the table and provide inputs,” said Kantrow, who also stressed the importance of trade and investment in the agriculture industry as it relates to economic development, empowering women, and innovation as areas where the private sector can contribute to the fight against malnutrition.
USCIB will attend ICN2 in November at the FAO’s headquarters in Rome.
Read the event summary on the FAO’s website.
Staff contacts: Louise Kantrow and Helen Medina
