The 32nd FAO Conference
Rome, 29 November – 10 December 2003
Agenda item 5: Review of the State of Food and Agriculture

GENERAL STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE LARS SPONHEIM, NORWAY

Mr. Chair,

1. We have all committed ourselves to reducing by half the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day, and to reducing by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger. However we are proceeding at a speed that is nowhere near what is needed for our goals to become reality.
2. The millennium development goals have led to an emphasis on rural development and sustainable livelihoods. Agricultural development in poor countries is a crucial part of poverty alleviation. Now is the time for FAO to capitalise on the thrust in support to agriculture, livestock rearing, fisheries and forestry. As members, we have to consider what role and ways of working FAO should take. The challenges ahead of us are tremendous. In this process, FAO’s role in establishing international codes, rules and guidelines to secure sustainable development cannot be underestimated. As members of FAO it is in our interest to contribute to making the organisation function, and function well. FAO has made good efforts to increase the cooperation with other members of the UN family. Further progress needs to be made, not least in strengthening agricultural policy advice at the country level.

Mr. Chair,

3. We commend FAO and member states for having concluded the Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The treaty ensures that plant genetic material remains in the public domain, and is accessible to all. Now effective implementation of the treaty is essential. Norway is in the process of ratifying the treaty, and we urge other nations which have not yet done so, to follow suit.
4. Today, millions of people around the world depend on forests for their income, for medicines, building materials, fuel and food. FAO has had a leading role in the Collaborative Partnerships on Forests and we expect the organisation to continue its efforts to promote sustainable forest management.
5. One major issue on the agenda of this Conference is illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. This is a major threat to fisheries conservation and marine biodiversity. We urge FAO to play an instrumental role in establishing co-operation with agencies and organisations with a view to preventing and finally eliminating IUU fishing.
6. Norway supports the ongoing work of the international working group elaborating voluntary guidelines for the right to food. A set of operational guidelines may help us reach the objective of food security. We support closer inter-agency dialogue on this issue.
7. FAOs operational programmes and field activities have a particular strength when they are linked to FAO’s normative role and activities . One of these norms is gender equality. FAO’s report on the Gender Plan of Action shows that much stronger efforts are needed in the fight for gender equality in agriculture, fishing and forestry. HIV/AIDS has been referred to as “a silent complex emergency”. In a growing number of countries, particularly in southern Africa, HIV/AIDS is destroying the social fabric and it is devastating for food security. FAO needs to intensify its efforts to address this problem.

Mr. Chair,

8. Norway has adopted a cautious position on genetically modified foods. Since 1997 the use of GM foods with inserted genes coding for antibiotic resistance has been forbidden, and labelling GM foods is mandatory. FAO is in a unique position to provide sound scientific advice in this and related fields. No other organisation has a similar mandate, a similar position, and a similar technical strength.
9. Norway places great emphasis on continuing to maintain a firm focus on food safety, with a food chain approach. FAO is, and should be, a key actor in setting rules and undertaking normative work in this regard, including through the Codex Alimentarius system. These safety standards are becoming increasingly important in the context of the international food trade.
10. Over the last five years, Norway and other partners have supported an initiative among agricultural universities in developing countries to radically change their approach to agricultural training. The participating universities have developed, on a regional basis, a new vision with a focus on contributing to the fight against poverty. Students are to be trained to become rural entrepreneurs and to create opportunities locally. I urge all interested partners to examine these “home-grown” visions and to help make them reality.
11. In conclusion, Mr Chair, Norway stands committed to the Millennium Development Goals. We stand committed to increasing our development aid to one per cent of GNI (Gross National Income) by the year 2005, and we stand committed to increasing our efforts in the area of rural development. FAO must be a strong partner in our efforts to reduce poverty.

Thank you for your attention.