Right to Food A Global Perspective by Susan Randolph and Shareen Hertel by Susan Randolph and Shareen Hertel The Right to Food in South Africa UCT, May 30-31, 2012

Global Hunger Between 1970 and 1995, globally the number of hungry people fell by100 million and the percentage hungry fell by nearly half But since then the number of hungry people has risen by 135 million people, most sharply since 2006 Virtually no progress has been made in reducing the percentage of hungry people globally. FAO estimates the number of hungry people in 2010 to be 925 millionthats roughly 1 in every 7 people. Between 1970 and 1995, globally the number of hungry people fell by100 million and the percentage hungry fell by nearly half But since then the number of hungry people has risen by 135 million people, most sharply since 2006 Virtually no progress has been made in reducing the percentage of hungry people globally. FAO estimates the number of hungry people in 2010 to be 925 millionthats roughly 1 in every 7 people. The Right to Food in South Africa UCT, May 30-31, 2012

FAO Hunger Trends Undernourished Per capita Food Production & Income The Right to Food in South Africa UCT, May 30-31, 2012

Yet since 1980 Per capita food production increased by a third Per capita income quadrupled Why? Yet since 1980 Per capita food production increased by a third Per capita income quadrupled Why?

Global Drivers of Hunger Dramatic increase in food prices shocks -defensive measures The Right to Food in South Africa UCT, May 30-31, 2012

Global Drivers: Long-term Supply & Demand Dynamics Supply Side Decline in agricultural investment Conversion farmland to non-agricultural uses Substitution high return crops for food crops Land degradation, soil erosion, nutrient depletion & water scarcity Supply Side Decline in agricultural investment Conversion farmland to non-agricultural uses Substitution high return crops for food crops Land degradation, soil erosion, nutrient depletion & water scarcity The Right to Food in South Africa UCT, May 30-31, 2012

Global Drivers: Long-term Supply & Demand Dynamics Demand Side Population growth Dietary diversification with per capita income growthChina. Bio-fuels production Demand Side Population growth Dietary diversification with per capita income growthChina. Bio-fuels production The Right to Food in South Africa UCT, May 30-31, 2012

Global Drivers: Policies Promoted by Global Institutions & Developed Country Policies Trade liberalization Stabilization & Structural Adjustment Agricultural Subsidies in OECD countries Trade liberalization Stabilization & Structural Adjustment Agricultural Subsidies in OECD countries The Right to Food in South Africa UCT, May 30-31, 2012

States Obligations States bear the principle obligation to ensure the rights of those under their jurisdiction. States also have obligations to engage in international cooperation to assist other countries (UN charter, Art. 2; ICESCR, Art. 1, CESCR General comment 3, para ) In practice, approach remains fundamentally state-centric. States bear the principle obligation to ensure the rights of those under their jurisdiction. States also have obligations to engage in international cooperation to assist other countries (UN charter, Art. 2; ICESCR, Art. 1, CESCR General comment 3, para ) In practice, approach remains fundamentally state-centric. The Right to Food in South Africa UCT, May 30-31, 2012

Problems with State-centric Approach Ignores how actions of global actorseg. MNCs, IFIs– affect rights of people worldwide The adverse consequences of states economic or other policy actions, on people who happen to live in other states. Fails to acknowledge the individual complicity of comparably well-off people, worldwide, who benefit from maintaining an unjust global economic order. Ignores how actions of global actorseg. MNCs, IFIs– affect rights of people worldwide The adverse consequences of states economic or other policy actions, on people who happen to live in other states. Fails to acknowledge the individual complicity of comparably well-off people, worldwide, who benefit from maintaining an unjust global economic order. The Right to Food in South Africa UCT, May 30-31, 2012

Global Efforts Toward the Realization of the Right to Food Despite some policy successes, there remain too many global policy failures. Decline in share of bilateral aid directly targeted to reducing hunger in the short-term from 6.2% in 1998 to 4.1% in Evidence some stabilization and structural adjustment programs continue to contribute to hunger (UNDP 2001, ESOCOR Jan 2008). Despite some policy successes, there remain too many global policy failures. Decline in share of bilateral aid directly targeted to reducing hunger in the short-term from 6.2% in 1998 to 4.1% in Evidence some stabilization and structural adjustment programs continue to contribute to hunger (UNDP 2001, ESOCOR Jan 2008). The Right to Food in South Africa UCT, May 30-31, 2012

Global Efforts Toward the Realization of the Right to Food Doha Rounds failure to reduce farm subsidies in high-income countries Proliferation bilateral trade agreements privatizing water that jeopardize food security Efforts to reign in TNCs (Global Compact, Ruggie Guidelines) remain voluntary Securing the right to food will require taking the Declaration on the Right to Development seriously. Doha Rounds failure to reduce farm subsidies in high-income countries Proliferation bilateral trade agreements privatizing water that jeopardize food security Efforts to reign in TNCs (Global Compact, Ruggie Guidelines) remain voluntary Securing the right to food will require taking the Declaration on the Right to Development seriously. The Right to Food in South Africa UCT, May 30-31, 2012