“WE ARE BUILDING BRIDGES TO FACILITATE TECHNOLOGY, KNOWLEDGE AND INVESTMENT TRANSFER” INTERVIEW Gerd Müller, Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), shares his views on the global food security challenge and on how technology, innovations and investments are key to address the issue By Başak Pamir, OPEC Fund
OPEC Fund Quarterly : What are the most pressing challenges facing global food security, and how is UNIDO addressing these challenges? Gerd Müller: The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic drove up inflation, while the Russia-Ukraine conflict has increased the prices of basic grains. Climate change and extreme weather events are fueling hunger. Almost 830 million people are unsure where their next meal is coming from. But a world without hunger is possible – through sustainable industrialization, technology and knowledge transfer and investment in agribusiness. UNIDO works to achieve food security so that all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. We see agribusiness and sustainable food supply chains playing a crucial role. Every year over 30 percent of all food produced globally is lost before it reaches the consumer. One way to reduce post-harvest losses is preservation, the processing of agricultural products. The result is that less food is lost, and food costs less – thus increasing food security, while generating job opportunities in rural communities. To tackle the challenge, it is imperative to join forces and UNIDO’s interventions with a focus on post-harvest processing complement the activities of UN organizations such as the World Food
Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). I would also stress that the processing of agricultural products in developing countries not only has huge potential to create jobs, it also increases export revenues and boosts economies. It addresses the challenge of food security but also makes an important contribution to the well-being of societies as a whole. OFQ : Which regions of the world are most at risk when it comes to food security and what specific strategies can help? GM: The conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine is having a serious impact on food security. These two countries are among the most important producers and exporters of agricultural commodities and products in the world. Many countries relied on Russian and Ukrainian supplies of foodstuffs and fertilizers. Worldwide, 36 countries imported more than half of their wheat from those two countries. The consequences for developing countries are severe, especially as increases in food prices hurt the poorest households the most. Food typically makes up one third to half of their spending. Higher global food prices and scarcity make developing countries’ food imports so expensive that they risk increasing rates of hunger and undernourishment.
PROFILE: GERD MÜLLER Gerd Müller has been Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) since December 2021. A German citizen, he has previously held numerous national and international positions, among them Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development in the government of Germany. He has named the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement as priorities for UNIDO under his leadership.
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