GovWire

Welcome to the Global Food Security Summit.

Id like to start by thanking our summit partners Somalia, the UAE, the Childrens Investment Fund Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

And I also want to thank my friend Andrew Mitchell for his incredible work on the International Development White Paper which were proud to be launching today.

Thank you all for your participation and support today.

We live in a dangerous world a time of growing threats, strategic competition and conflict.

Many of these challenges, like the war in Ukraine, have a direct impact on the poorest around in world.

Others threaten to draw attention away from their plight, putting at risk the vital progress made over recent years.

With this White Paper, were answering those challenges

changing our approach to deliver in a changing world.

Because we know that you dont lead merely with strength but with compassion.

So were going further to help the poorest and support those suffering in humanitarian crises.

Were not just applying our aid budget to deliver results on the ground, but also Britains expertise in development and our leadership in science, technology and innovation.

And well do all of this not by acting alone or seeking to dictate the way forward

but through building even deeper partnerships around the world, based on mutual respect.

Its only by working together that we will get the Sustainable Development Goals back on track.

And that starts with redoubling our efforts to deliver the goal on zero hunger.

It cant be right that today in 2023, almost one billion people across the world regularly do not have enough to eat

that millions face hunger and starvation

and over 45 million children under five are suffering acute malnutrition.

In a world of abundance, no one should die from lack of food.

And no parent should ever have to watch their child starve.

Im proud of everything the UK is doing to provide immediate relief.

Were one of the top 4 donors to UN crisis response.

Weve doubled our aid for Palestinian civilians with an additional 30 million.

Were clear that Israel has the right to defend itself

it has been attacked in the most brutal manner possible. The situation on the ground is tragic and getting worse.

It must act within international humanitarian law.

Were pressing hard for unhindered humanitarian access in Gaza and for urgent and substantive humanitarian pauses

because the suffering of innocent civilians must end.

Were also leading the way in helping Ukraine get its grain out through the Black Sea and into the hands of those in need.

But because the scale of the global hunger crisis is so staggering, today were going further

providing up to 100 million now for those worst hit, particularly across East Africa, the Sahel, and Afghanistan

and in countries like Malawi which are reeling from climate-related cyclones and drought.

Yet, as everyone here knows, simply responding in the wake of crisis is not enough.

Climate change, conflict and population rise mean ever greater challenges to food supplies.

So we need a fundamental shift in the way we approach food security

with a focus on long-term solutions to stop food crises before they start.

And we need to harness the full power of science and technology to ensure supplies are resilient to threats like conflict, drought and floods.

Thats why the UK is working to deliver lasting solutions.

And were doing so in four important ways.

First, by preventing the worst forms of child malnutrition.

We played a leading role in the design of the Child Nutrition Fund, which supports vital supplies of life-saving food.

And today Im pleased to announce were building on that with a further 16 million

and helping to bring in more funding, including from our fantastic philanthropic partners.

Second, were using technology to anticipate and prevent food security crises.

Together with our partners, were applying AI to model the impact of climate change on agriculture, so that we can find ways to avoid future crises.

And we know just how effective this can be.

Our work with the Government of Somalia helped them avert famine last year.

And today, Im pleased to announce that will we help Somalia avoid future crises with up to 100 million of future support

enabling thousands of communities manage water supplies, adapt their farming, and increase their resilience to droughts, floods and other climate shocks.

Third, were supporting developing countries to build more sustainable and resilient food systems.

We helped set up the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program to crowd-in public and private sector finance.

And now were driving reform of development banks, stretching their balance sheets even further to unlock more resources for food security

and that includes UK guarantees which are releasing $6 billion of the Banks resources for development in countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

Finally, were applying our leadership in science to this crisis.

As the country that over the last few years has led the development of the worlds first and second malaria vaccines

were also driving scientific advances in food security which benefit millions globally

as well as supporting our brilliant farmers here at home.

Weve already helped develop crops that are drought-resistant and even richer in vitamins

now feeding 100 million people across Africa.

And were going further launching a new UK CGIAR Science Centre to drive cutting-edge research on flood tolerant rice, disease resistant wheat and much more.

These innovations will reach millions across the poorest countries

as well as improving UK crop yields and driving down food prices.

In conclusion, this is the difference that Britain makes using all our expertise and tools at our disposal helping people now and for the long term.

But we cannot do this alone.

Thats what this summit is all about. And its why our approach is all about partnership.

With your help, we can get the Sustainable Development Goals back on track

deliver a world of zero hunger

and transform millions of lives for years to come.

Thank you have a great summit.