How can the Netherlands contribute to global food security? Reflections on a round table in the House of Representatives

These questions were asked to a panel of experts by the Standing Committee on Foreign Trade and Development Aid at the Dutch House of Representatives on Wednesday February 5th.The discussion was initiated by amongst others, the call from NFP and 95 stakeholders to invest more in international food security. The following reflections are by NFP Executive Director Ivo Demmers:

My contribution focused on the power of long-term and equal partnerships. One could think of your favorite dish, which only tastes good when all the ingredients are blended in at the right order and balance. Cooperation also entails organizing co- and countervailing power and thereby contributing to solutions for context-specific questions such as: shock-resistant production, healthy food, employment or reducing food waste. This requires all parties involved: farmers and their organizations, SMEs, educational and knowledge institutions, social organizations, businesses and governments.

The Members of Parliament asked good questions, showing their interest and involvement in the subjects. In addition to NFP, IPES-Food, IDH, World Benchmarking Alliance, WUR, CGIAR Brookings were represented in the discussion. The following topics, and more, were discussed:

• Food security is not just about agriculture or producing more food. Many factors are important: production, processing, distribution, food loss and waste, but also: what is a healthy diet, what is the impact on the environment, the economy and public health? Speakers therefore emphasized the importance of the food systems approach. Dutch efforts should be more focused on strengthening the resilience of local food systems in low- and middle-income countries and supporting the development of local crops.

• Market concentration in commodities puts a strain on food security; experts stressed the importance of more regulation from the Netherlands and the EU, such as trade and labor standards and CSR policies.

• Interaction between (regional) trade and local production is needed for a (year-round) available, affordable and balanced diet for everyone. Speakers stressed that this trade must take place on an equal footing. For example, through trade agreements between continents (EU - Africa Continental Free Trade Area) instead of bilaterally. By focusing on strengthening local markets, African countries become less dependent on global trade and the import of food (self-sufficient).

• Many parties are involved in global food security, so cooperation is essential. The Netherlands should establish and maintain partnerships at national and local levels. Also, the Netherlands' commitment to food diplomacy is essential, especially in the current geopolitical situation, both in multilateral fora (UN, OECD), but definitely also in the EU.

• Dutch knowledge and expertise can contribute to solving local challenges and offers opportunities for the business community. Particularly in the seed sector, in food & processing technology, soil and water management, innovation and knowledge.

NFP continues to contribute by facilitating dialogue and cooperation between diamond stakeholders. Two topics are worth pursuing in a follow-up:

• Opportunities for supporting the development of smallholder farmers and SMEs . That starts with recognizing the current plural ways of access to markets, input materials and knowledge. There are good examples to build on, for example the Integrated Seed Sector Development as promoted by stakeholders in the SeedNL partnership.

• Is there a discrepancy between sustainable production and production increase? In this discussion, facts and assumptions are often mixed; on the one hand there is the narrative that sustainability leads to lower productivity versus the idea that nature-based solutions can actually lead to increased production. We address these questions in, among others, the Bridging Biodiversity and Food Systems partnership.

Ivo Demmers