AU, EU, US, Germany, others seal food security deal

African Union, European Union, Nigeria, Spain, United States, Colombia, Germany, and Indonesia have affirmed their commitment to responding to the urgent food security and nutrition needs of hundreds of millions worldwide. This was made known in a statement posted on the website of the US Mission in Nigeria. It stated that the leaders made the declaration after a meeting on Tuesday in New York on the sidelines of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly. The leaders said the food security challenge had been compounded by the pandemic, growing pressures from the climate crisis, high energy, and fertilizer prices, and protracted conflicts. They added that Russias invasion of Ukraine had disrupted production and supply chains and increased global food insecurity for the most vulnerable. The statement reads: We can only overcome global food insecurity by working together to create innovative partnerships including international financial institutions and other key stakeholders within the global community. We commit to strengthen international cooperation and partnership initiatives between the United Nations and regional and sub-regional organizations as well as civil society organizations. As of September 20, this year, over 100 United Nations Member States have endorsed the Roadmap for Global Food Security Call to Action.