Business must be a part of the solution for global food security – Lisa Dreier

Lisa Dreier is guest blogging for the Forum. She is Director of Food Security and Development Initiatives at the World Economic Forum.

The rise of commodity prices and its impact on food security has been an important topic of discussion in Davos this week. Increased volatility in food markets poses both humanitarian and political risks. 

Yesterday in Davos, the World Economic Forum launched a  strategy that can help provide long-term solutions to the food security challenge. Titled "Realizing a New Vision for Agriculture: A Roadmap for Stakeholders," the strategy outlines the contributions the private sector can make to implement sustainable agriculture systems that meet our global needs.
                                                                                                         Brent Stirton, courtesy of Getty Images

The Roadmap was developed through the Forum's New Vision for Agriculture initiative – an alliance of 17 global companies, national governments, international organizations and farmer leaders to

accelerate sustainable agricultural development through market-based approaches. The initiative works to develop a shared agenda for sustainable agricultural growth among stakeholders, based on a vision of agriculture as a positive driver of food security, environmental sustainability, and economic opportunity.

Over the last year, we’ve worked with a broad array of stakeholders from around the world to develop and implement this strategy. We catalyzed working partnerships with the governments of Tanzania and Vietnam to bring business-led solutions to help meet their national agricultural goals.

The New Vision strategy advocates a comprehensive approach: coordinating policy, infrastructure, value-chain investments and business innovation to improve agriculture systems holistically. That requires intensive collaboration between business, government, civil society and international organisations.

In a series of events today, the partners in this initiative reaffirmed their commitment to work together to make the New Vision a reality. We look forward to expanding the impact of these efforts going forward.

Information on the New Vision for Agriculture and the Roadmap can be found on the website.