FAO. Nordic Statement on Global Food Security Challenges and Drivers

Mr Chair,

1. I speak on behalf of the five Nordic countries, the EU members; Denmark, Finland and Sweden, as well as Iceland and my own country Norway.
2. The Nordics appreciate FAO’s analysis of the drivers of food insecurity. The hunger numbers are disturbing and may grow as wars and; conflicts continue to worsen food crises; and climate change intensifies weather extremes and challenges the adaptation of crops and seeds.
3. We note the SOFI report’s focus on higher food prices related to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and on man-made conflicts - as a primary driver of food crises, like the catastrophic famines in Sudan and Gaza.
4. We must maintain the capacity of FAO to provide global public goods in the form of data and analysis. The SOFI report, the Global Report on Food Crises, and the Integrated Food Security Classification are crucial in this regard. High quality and impartial evidence is fundamental to accountability, transparency, and ensuring impactful interventions to address food security.
5. We commend IPC’s work and reports and note with deep concern the IPC Famine Review Committee’s assessment of an entirely man-made famine in Gaza, with a large part of the population facing catastrophic food insecurity.
6. In this unprecedented humanitarian crisis, it is crucial that emergency assistance and personnel be granted unhindered access to Gaza, in accordance with international humanitarian law, to provide urgent access to life-sustaining supplies.
7. Using established humanitarian actors, who uphold the humanitarian principles, is the only viable option to assist those in need in Gaza, as we saw during the ceasefire in March 2025, when the UN, the Red Cross/Red Crescent, and international NGOs delivered assistance quickly and effectively.
8. The UN has stressed the importance of engaging constructively with the Civil Military Coordination Centre in Israel, while safeguarding the irreplaceable role of the UN, the humanitarian principles and international law. The Nordic countries emphasize that the operations of the CMCC must contribute to a real improvement in the operational conditions for humanitarian actors and include the Palestinian Authority and be carried out in accordance with international law.
9. We salute all UN, humanitarian and health workers who are saving lives and alleviating suffering in extremely challenging conditions. We commend FAO’s efforts to sustain food production and livestock and complement food assistance.
10. While assisting Gaza, we must not forget the situation in the West Bank, where settler violence and occupation practices also have a disastrous impact on food security. Only a negotiated two-state solution in accordance with international law can achieve lasting and durable peace between Israel and Palestine.
11. The Nordic countries condemn Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine in the strongest possible terms. Russia’s war disrupts Ukraine’s agri-food sector, causing food insecurity, constraining farmer’s access to inputs and limiting yields. This has severe consequences for the people of Ukraine, but also for global food security.
12. Ukraine’s grain harvests have dropped by a quarter since Russia's full-scale invasion. Yet, close to four years on, Ukraine's positive role in global food security endures despite disrupted ports and captured farmland.
13. Ukraine’s achievements in keeping its agriculture products flowing to global markets are commendable. The ‘Food from Ukraine’ initiative providing access to food for people in the global south is geared towards sustaining these efforts.
14. Agriculture is vital for Ukraine’s economy and resilience. Ongoing efforts aimed at transforming the country’s agro-industrial sector into a driver of recovery and sustainable development represent a fundamental and strategic approach.
15. The Nordics remain firm in our support to Ukraine. We call on FAO to continue supporting Ukraine through its Emergency and Early Recover Response Plan and to collaborate with other international organizations to ensure an effective and efficient response.

Thank you.