8 SEPTEMBER 2017 - Global nutrition and agricultural experts agree that agricultural and dietary diversification is the way forward in the face of climate change. This was the strong message conveyed at a high-level meeting co-hosted by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Crops For the Future (CFF). Participants agreed priority actions to enhance the role of agricultural and dietary diversification in achieving the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG2): Zero Hunger. Held at the IFAD headquarters in Rome from 4 - 5 September, the meeting was supported by IFAD and the Association of International Research and Development Centers for Agriculture (AIRCA). Around 20 agriculture and nutrition experts from AIRCA, IFAD, FAO and Bioversity International participated in the meeting.
The Rome meeting built on last year’s successful Global Action Plan for Agricultural Diversification (GAPAD) SDG2 Roundtable Forum in Nairobi, Kenya where over 40 participants from 14 countries discussed how agricultural diversification can contribute to achieving SDG2. The Rome event explored specifics, as experts brainstormed action plans on agricultural diversification to be implemented across the SDG2 targets, with emphasis on diversification of diets.