FAO Report on the 2010 International Scientific Symposium on Biodiversity and Sustainable Diets

Abstract

On the occasion of the celebration for the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity, the International Scientific Symposium “Biodiversity and Sustainable Diets: United Against Hunger” was organized jointly by FAO and Bioversity International. The three-day Symposium was held at FAO headquarters, from 3 to 5 November 2010, within the World Food Day/Week programme, as a contribution to the advancement of the Cross-cutting Initiative on Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition. It was realized in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Alliance Against Hunger and Malnutrition, INFOODS, IUNS, FENS, INRAN, CIHEAM-IAMB, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policy of Italy and with the contribution of the Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition, IDCR and CTA. The Symposium was preceded by a Technical Workshop held on 31 May and 1 June 2010, at FAO headquarters, in Rome. The Workshop served to identify topics, agenda and program me of the Symposium as well as to develop a set of key points and recommendations for a definition of “sustainable diets” in line with the ecosystem approach. The Symposium produced a consensus position on a definition of “sustainable diets” as those diets with low environmental impacts which contribute to food and nutrition security and to healthy life for present and future generations. It was agreed that sustainable diets were protective and respectful of biodiversity and ecosyste ms, culturally acceptable, accessible, economically fair and affordable. It was also agreed that sustainable diets were those diets that were nutritionally adequate, safe and healthy, while optimizing natural and human resources. The Symposium had the aim to mainstream, as a common path, food biodiversity and nutrition towards the achievement of food and nutrition security and the MDGs.