The Meals and Agriculture Group of the United Nations (FAO) by the European Union (EU)-funded BESPA-FOOD (Greatest Standardized Practices for the Agri-Meals Sector) undertaking will assist the federal government to determine a well-coordinated meals security system within the nation.
By the 6.5 million Euro undertaking, FAO will work intently with the Ministry of Well being to implement institutional revisions within the nation’s meals security coverage and regulatory framework in the direction of adopting preventive, risk-based measures throughout the availability chain.
The present meals security regulatory insurance policies in Sri Lanka focuses largely on end-product checks and laws. Ruled by a regulatory framework established in 1980, the challenges going through Sri Lanka’s meals security sector embrace weak regulatory and institutional frameworks which have led to vulnerabilities in provide chains, and infrastructure in addition to an method that doesn’t think about each side of the meals provide chain from farm-to-table.
To reply to these gaps, FAO may even work with the Ministries associated to agriculture, livestock improvement, and fisheries sectors, in addition to different agri and meals sector stakeholders together with non-public enterprises, SMEs, and shoppers to realize an entire transformation of meals security requirements within the nation by way of institutional in addition to attitudinal shifts.
“Meals security requires a collaborative effort. That’s the reason in Sri Lanka we work along with United Nations Industrial Growth Group (UNIDO), FAO and native companions to advertise a transition to a sustainable and truthful meals system that may present enough and protected meals for all,” mentioned Chargé d’affaires, Delegation of the European Union in Sri Lanka, Mr. Lars Bredal.
“Making certain protected meals for all Sri Lankans shouldn’t be solely a public well being precedence but in addition an financial necessity. We should proceed to strengthen our capability for meals security, spend money on analysis and innovation, and prioritize client consciousness and training. At FAO, we stay dedicated to working intently with our companions to realize a food-secure and protected Sri Lanka,” mentioned FAO Consultant for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Mr. Vimlendra Sharan.
BESPA-FOOD, which is collectively carried out by FAO and UNIDO, and funded by the EU, acknowledges that present ranges of poor meals security requirements not solely impacts public well being but in addition hampers Sri Lanka’s potential in worldwide commerce, notably when buying and selling with areas the place markets are extremely regulated. Strengthening the meals security sector is not going to solely alleviate the excessive price of healthcare companies but in addition create a resilient and aggressive meals trade in each home and worldwide markets, and fight the problem of meals loss and waste, thereby contributing to general meals safety within the nation.
A latest research by UNIDO revealed that an enchancment in meals security practices in Sri Lanka by a 30 million USD funding and an annual internet budgetary dedication of 9 million might stop at the least 113 deaths yearly and considerably enhance annual export values, projected to extend by 24% over a decade.
On this World Meals Security Day, the EU, UNIDO and FAO reaffirms dedication to enhancing meals security in Sri Lanka by the BESPA-FOOD undertaking. This collaborative effort goals to create a safer, extra resilient, and economically vibrant meals sector, making certain the well-being and sustainable improvement of the nation and its individuals.
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