DAVOS, Switzerland — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said boosting agriculture and fisheries productivity are some of the critical steps to help nations attain nutrition security.
Marcos said this as he participated in the Panel Session on Moving Towards Nutrition Security at the World Economic Forum (WEF) here on Wednesday, Jan. 18.
In his opening remark, the President said improving logistics systems, changing people's lifestyles, using climate-resilient technologies, and promoting urban and vertical farming to enhance food production are also ways to achieve nutrition security.
"We must invest in facilities, logistics, and systems that bring nutritious food to our people, much like a grander scale of farm-to-table, and increase the capacity of our institutions to enforce regulations that enhance food quality," he said.
"We must also cooperate in developing technologies that increase the nutritional value of our food and content and prolong their shelf life," he added.
According to the President, governments should incentivize a nutritious lifestyle, promote active and health-seeking behaviors across ages and income levels, and create an ecosystem based on a green and circular economy.
In the Philippines, Marcos said food security remains at the forefront of his administration's national agenda, anchored on the vision for a prosperous, resilient, and secure Philippines by 2040.
He likewise noted the overarching goals of his government were to build an inclusive society and prolong people's life expectancy.
"Underscoring all these lofty goals is ensuring that each and everyone is provided with quality and ample nutrition," President Marcos said.
Despite efforts, Marcos admitted that more certainly needed to be done to attain Sustainable Development Goal 2 on Zero Hunger. He cited a 2021 Global Food Security Index, which ranked the Philippines at a modest 64th out of 113 countries in four dimensions of food security.
The report emphasized that the nutrition challenge is different among nations. However, the keys to prioritizing interventions are those geared toward making food available, affordable and accessible amid the looming global food and energy shortage.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive said the Philippines is keen on working with the WEF and various stakeholders on a holistic and integrated plan covering both food security and nutrition security.
Marcos added that the work of the WEF's New Frontiers of Nutrition, a vital component of the equally vital Future of Consumption Platform, is commendable as it provides everyone with the "first big leap towards nutrition security through a common paradigm" and developing principles and indicators to sustain efforts while aiming to create economic value for nutrition.