The groups including the International Dairy Federation (IDF), International Meat Secretariat (IMS), International Poultry Council (IPC), International Egg Commission (IEC) and the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) are backing the plea from by UN FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva at the 2nd International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2).

Held in Rome from 19-21 November and jointly organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the goal of this high-level intergovernmental conference was to improve nutrition through national policies and effective global, multi-stakeholder collaboration, including the private sector.

The Livestock Consortium members have jointly provided input into the ICN2 framework documents, supporting the shared vision to end all forms of malnutrition and highlighting the important role of livestock in nutrition security.

Specifically the Livestock Consortium has highlighted five opportunities for public-private partnerships, including enabling environments with relevant information; building sustainable food systems; addressing wasting, stunting, as well as anemia in women of reproductive age; improving access to healthy, diversified diet; and nutrition education.

Speaking to over 2200 delegates from 170 countries, Dr. Nico van Belzen reiterated the positive role the private sector plays in feeding the growing world population and highlighted “Nutrient-rich livestock products are important for preventing all forms of malnutrition. The livestock sector is committed to constructively contribute to the Framework for Action through public-private partnerships”.

The livestock sector also spoke during the Private Sector meeting with FAO Director-General Dr José Graziano da Silva and WHO Assistant Director-General Dr Oleg Chestnov on 18 November, as well as during an ICN2 side event on obesity.

With more than half the world’s population adversely affected by malnutrition, the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) has endorsed the Rome Declaration on Nutrition, committing countries to eradicate hunger and prevent malnutrition.