Cold Link Africa January/February 2021 | Page 39

CONTRIBUTORS
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
The impacts of this reality are both
by physical distancing measures to
impacts of Covid-19 are causing supply
and between United Nations ’ entities ,
immediate and far-reaching . Together
contain the pandemic . For instance , FAO
and demand shocks at a national ,
the private sector , civil society and
we can – and must – limit Covid-19 ’ s
has recently released the FAO Data Lab
regional and global level , leading to
key local actors . It is only if we all work
damaging effects on food security and
to bring real time data on food prices and
immediate and longer-term risks for
hand in hand for greater coherence
nutrition . Simultaneously , we need to
sentiment analysis .
food production and availability . We
and efficiency that we can we achieve
transform our food systems for a more
We have also developed the Hand-in-
need to ensure the compliance of trade
success on the ground .
resilient and equitable future . To build
back better .
From the very beginning of the
pandemic , the FAO has actively
Hand Geospatial Platform which brings
more than 1 million geospatial layers
to help prioritise interventions within
countries . These make visual datasets
requirements and improve efficiency in moving goods across borders . FAO aims to facilitate and increase international agricultural and food trade , with a focus
THIRD , WE MUST ACCELERATE INNOVATION
New investment strategies , digital
supported countries and farmers to work
available to provide global early-warnings
on intraregional trade .
technology and infrastructure innovation
on scalable and sustainable solutions
on possible hotspots that may be affected
In addition , the prevention of future
are essential to obtaining better data ,
to help ensure nutritious food for all . This
by adverse weather conditions , and how
animal-to-human disease outbreaks
increasing efficiency in food production
forms the basis of the comprehensive
they evolve over time .
requires coordination between
and providing market access . In this
FAO Covid-19 Response and Recovery
Programme , which identifies seven priority
areas for action . However , to catalyse
and build upon these solutions , a business
as usual approach will not suffice . The
following three strategic shifts must guide
SECOND , WE MUST DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE SYNERGY OF OUR COLLECTIVE ACTIONS
The Covid-19 crisis calls for us not only to
stakeholders from all relevant sectors . This includes the health sector , as well national and local natural resource management and rural development , in order to address potential outbreaks in high-risk hotspots . To respond to these needs ,
regard , there are many solutions from
the private sector that could be of great
use to governments and international
organisations , which can fine-tune their
methods based on the private sector ’ s
innovation-centric , results-oriented
our collective response .
come together , but to act in unison like
FAO and the World Health Organisation
approach .
FIRST , WE NEED BETTER DATA FOR BETTER DECISION-MAKING
Timely and effective responses to the
never before . Pooling all available data ,
efforts and resources for synergistic action
will be paramount for a holistic response
and recovery , as will collaboration
( WHO ) have recently strengthened the Joint FAO / WHO Centre . This Centre hosts the Codex Alimentarius Commission and unites expertise on zoonotic diseases from
The prevention of food crises cannot
wait until the health crisis is over , nor
can we simply aim to return to the
unacceptable levels of hunger and food
impact of Covid-19 depend upon
on promoting economic inclusion ,
FAO , WHO and other global partners
insecurity witnessed before the pandemic .
knowing exactly where and when support
agricultural trade , sustainable and resilient
and coordination mechanisms , to build
FAO is placing its convening power ,
is needed , as well as how that support
food systems , preventing future animal-to-
national capacities to predict , prevent
real-time data , early warning systems
can be implemented best . This means
human disease outbreaks and ensuring
and control zoonotic threats .
and technical expertise at the world ’ s
up-scaling work on data , information
coordinated humanitarian action .
An effective food and agricultural
disposal . Together , we can help the most
and analysis , and taking a bottom-up
The pandemic is already generating
response to the pandemic also calls for
vulnerable , prevent further crises , increase
approach .
an unprecedented impact on
joint humanitarian action , particularly
resilience to shocks and accelerate the
FAO is rapidly adapting and enhancing
global and regional trade , with world
to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable
rebuilding of our food systems .
data collection methods at the country ,
merchandise trade in 2020 expected to
smallholder and family farmers . We must
Together we can ensure a future in which
regional and global levels , as data
fall by as much as 32 %. Unlike any other
thoughtfully and adequately increase
everyone is well nourished . I invite you to join
collection processes have been disrupted
food or health crisis in modern times , the
collaboration and partnerships among
us and be part of the solution .
CLA

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