UN Lebanon hosted, on July 22, its first virtual dialogue on Food Systems in Lebanon under the patronage of Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, Najat Rochdi and Lebanese MP Inaya Ezzeddine. Organized by UNIC Beirut, WFP, FAO, RCO, ESCWA and UNIDO, the dialogue brought together around 90 participants for a lively and constructive discussion on how to make the food system in Lebanon safer, stronger, and more equitable.
Four separate discussions were conducted during the dialogue revolving around three tracks: ensuring access to safe and nutritious food for all, advancing equitable livelihoods, and building resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stress and the role of youth in technology and innovation of the food systems.
In her opening remarks, Rochdi warned that the Lebanese who have always been known for their rich hospitality and generosity, are today threatened by their basic right to food due to the continuous rise in commodity prices as a result of the successive crises in the country, however, she assured that “the UN in Lebanon is currently working on building food resilience to vulnerabilities at the individual, community, and system levels.”
For her part, MP Inaya Ezzeddine considered in her speech that food security is an outcome of the food system. “Our duty is to ensure that the food system is resilient to ensure sustainable access to safe and healthy food to those who live in Lebanon and not only for a few,” the lawmaker assured.
Speaking on behalf of FAO, the agency’s representative in Lebanon Maurice Saade urged all actors to join forces and implement recommendations to avoid an acute food security crisis in Lebanon.
Rami Zurayk, professor at the American University of Beirut who moderated the opening and closing sessions, highlighted the importance of focusing on the obstacles that affect the functioning of food systems such as conflicts, pandemics, socio-economic crises, and the absence of technology and scientific development.
Proposals at the discussion will be presented to the World Food Systems Summit scheduled in September.
