“Food for Talk” series, hosted by the FAO Geneva Office to highlight the linkages between agriculture, food and nutrition security, and sustainable development - "Nutrition in the Post-2015 Development Agenda”

I warmly welcome the initiation of the “Food for Talk” series, which now brings together the strengths of International Geneva on the critical challenges of food and nutrition security.

These are challenges that cut across the mandates of many Geneva-based United Nations and partner organizations. Their combined activities touch people across the globe. It is a strong example of the direct and positive impact of our collective work here. By engaging all stakeholders and our Geneva public, the series will help to raise awareness and change perceptions about the value of our work.

There can be no doubt about the magnitude and seriousness of the challenges. One in every eight person on the planet goes hungry. The growing numbers of displaced persons suffer high levels of malnutrition. As the latest challenge, the Ebola virus has endangered the harvest and increased food prices throughout West Africa, bringing us closer to a major food crisis in the region most affected by this terrible epidemic.

Eliminating hunger, ensuring food security and making our agriculture and food systems sustainable requires an integrated approach. The challenges cannot be dealt with in isolation but must be fully embedded in our broader development efforts. Experience shows, for example, that empowerment of women is a key factor in achieving food security and improving nutrition.

Ahead of the Second International Conference on Nutrition in November, the topic for this inaugural edition could not be more timely. Food and nutrition security have already been central areas of focus in the discussions of the post-2015 development agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. The many Geneva-based partners working in this area are important not only in the process of formulating the new agenda, but will be absolutely essential in the implementation process.

I hope that this and future Talks will provide inspiration and practical points for this work, and I look forward to seeing the series develop as an integral part of our International Geneva.