UfM stresses the importance of Blue Economy at the UN Food Systems Pre-Summit

28 July 2021, Rome. UfM Secretary General Nasser Kamel intervened today at the United Nations Food Systems Pre-Summit, held on26-28 July at the Headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Rome, Italy. Under the leadership of UN Secretary-General António Guterres and in partnership with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, this hybrid event aimed to set the scene for the Food Systems Summit in September.

During the Pre-Summit, Secretary General Kamel spoke on the panel “Steering the Food System Summit Towards Full Integration of Blue Foods for Health, Wealth and Ecological Recovery”, co-organized by the FAO Secretariat, the international researchers’ coalition Blue Food Assessment, Iceland and Norway. Secretary General Kamel highlighted the importance of the Blue Economy — currently at the core of the UfM’s work on Sustainable Development — not only for food systems but also for the protection of ocean resources and economic growth. As the 2030 Agenda deadline approaches, this holistic Euro-Mediterranean approach and the UfM’s Declaration on Blue Economy can become examples for knowledge and sustainable job promotion, political engagement and partnership.

The scientific approaches, action coalitions and partnerships debated during this event will ultimately be consolidated into a common vision on how to leverage food systems to deliver progress on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, as well as on people, prosperity, and the planet — which will be further discussed in September’s Summit.

The UfM has previously partnered with FAO, CIHEAM, One Planet Network SFS Programme and PRIMA on the organization of two Independent Food Systems Summit Dialogues, which took place on 27 April and 3 June 2021, bringing key regional stakeholders together.