Second Committee

STATEMENT BY MR JASON BAY, DELEGATE TO THE 66th SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON AGENDA ITEM 25, ON AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT AND FOOD SECURITY, SECOND COMMITTEE, 24 OCTOBER 2011

Mr Chairman,

I would like to align my delegation with the statements made by Argentina, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, and by Indonesia, on behalf of ASEAN.

Food security - a complex, global issue

2 This month, as we welcome the seven billionth member of the human family, we cannot help contemplating the Malthusian challenge we will face in feeding him or her. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, global food supply must increase by 70% by 2050 to keep pace with population growth. Rising affluence and shifting consumption patterns in fast-developing economies will drive up global meat consumption by 20% in this decade alone.

3 Food security is not merely an economic issue; it has critical socio-political dimensions that manifest in times of scarcity. One in five Member States experienced demonstrations during the 2007-2008 food crisis and, while developing countries are disproportionately affected by food insecurity, developed countries are not immune.

4 Food security is also a complex issue, with linkages to energy and water security. Energy security concerns have driven the conversion of food stock to biofuel; high oil prices raise transportation costs, impacting food distribution. The importance of water for horticulture also means that climate-induced water insecurity tends to exacerbate food insecurity, as is the case in the Horn of Africa.

International coordination to ensure food security

Mr Chairman,

5 Food security requires urgent international policy coordination; Singapore strongly supports regional and global initiatives to secure the availability and accessibility of food. We are committed to the APEC Action Plan on Food Security and the Niigata Declaration on food security issued in October last year. We also welcome steps taken by the G20 to cast the spotlight on the issue of price volatility in food markets at its summit in November. In this regard, the Global Governance Group or 3G shared its views with the G20 through a paper on food security and the volatility of commodity prices, which was circulated as a UN document A/65/832.

6 Singapore believes that it is possible to secure long-term solutions to food security. The presence of an open, universal, and equitable multilateral trading system is a key contributor to this objective.

7 The global food market can be termed a "thin market" with small trading volumes - for example only 11-12% of global maize production and 3-7% of rice production is traded - and this makes the market prone to price spikes. The volatility of global prices is exacerbated when countries implement trade-restrictive policies. A study by the International Food Policy Research Institute estimates that eliminating all taxes, quotas and restrictions on food exports would reduce global cereal prices by about 30%. It is evident that distortionary practices would also encourage arbitrage and speculation, further constrain trade volumes and exacerbate price instability by increasing supply uncertainty.

8 Indeed, the World Bank has noted that local food price volatility in many developing countries remains higher than volatility in world markets. My delegation is convinced that a successful conclusion of the WTO Doha Development Agenda would greatly help to reduce volatility within and across regions, keep markets open and reduce distortionary practices such as export restrictions or subsidies that are inconsistent with WTO rules. It would also pave the way for developing countries to see that it is in their interests to better integrate their markets through international trade.

Singapore's domestic food security policies

Mr Chairman,

9 As a small, urban city-state, Singapore imports more than 90% of its food, and is therefore vulnerable to both transitory and chronic food insecurity.

10 To minimise our exposure to transitory supply volatility, we have diversified our sources of imports, and have encouraged Singapore firms to explore contract farming. We have also urged these firms to invest in joint ventures to create overseas food zones in partnership with local partners, in order to secure food sources for both parties. Through business continuity management processes, we are also able to quickly tap on alternate food sources in the event of a supply shock. Through close monitoring and efficient accreditation processes for problem-free food production zones, we are able to respond efficiently to food safety incidents that may arise from time to time.

11 These externally-directed initiatives are complemented by measures to reduce our chronic reliance on food imports, such as through local farming. We have set local production targets for key food items such as eggs, leafy vegetables, and fish. We have also created funding schemes to enhance local food productivity by supporting research and development efforts in areas such as fish breeding, seed banking, sustainable farming, and other farming innovations.

Singapore's contributions to global food security

Mr Chairman,

12 Singapore takes a holistic view of food security. The Secretary-General's report (A/66/277) estimates that agriculture investment needs to increase by about 50%, to some US$279 billion annually, by 2050, if we are to successfully address the growing demand for food. By investing in global agriculture research, Singapore can enhance its own food security.

13 While we do not grow rice, the National University of Singapore and the Singapore-based Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory are collaborating with the International Rice Research Institute to improve rice yields and disease resistance. The Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies is also championing an inter-disciplinary perspective in examining food security-related issues.

14 We are also leveraging on private sector efforts. As a research and development hub, we have supported agri-businesses such as Syngenta and Bayer CropScience that are attempting to apply genomics to improve crop varieties, with global applications.

15 With more than half of humanity living in cities, urban food security solutions will be increasingly important. As an urban centre, Singapore is well-placed to pilot urban and peri-urban agriculture solutions; a Singapore company, SkyGreens, has successfully piloted a vertical farming prototype, and is now entering commercial production.

Conclusion

Mr Chairman,

16 Food security is a key issue for the international community, and a new "Green Revolution" is needed to meet the challenge. Through cooperation between countries, governments, academia, and the private sector, there is every reason to believe that we can address the challenge, and make that seven billionth person feel truly welcome.

Thank you.

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