International food summit in Copenhagen: The global food sector must become more sustainable

At the World Food Summit – Better Food for More People in Copenhagen at the end of August, governments, food producers and other food actors will identify the initiatives necessary to bring the world closer to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The summit is being hosted by Mogens Jensen, Minister for Food, Fisheries and Equal Opportunities and Minister for Nordic Cooperation.

Denmark has a clear ambition in gathering ministers, opinion-makers and food producers in Copenhagen at the end of August at the World Food Summit: To make global food production - and food consumption - much more sustainable. If we fail to do so, accelerating consumption will have enormous consequences for the climate, environment and biodiversity. The world's growing population must have food on the table.

“Researchers have shown that the environmental impact of food production will increase by 50-90% up to 2050 due to population growth and increasing incomes, unless food production and consumption becomes more sustainable.  This issue must be taken seriously,” stressed Mogens Jensen, Minister for Food, Fisheries and Equal Opportunities and Minister for Nordic Cooperation. He will be hosting the World Food Summit from 29-30 August in Copenhagen.

“If we really want to reduce our climate footprint, we’ll have to make some tough decisions and decide what food products we’ll have in the future, and how we can produce and consume them. Global agriculture and food production must be climate-friendly. We must act now,” said Mogens Jensen.

As an example, he refers to the most recent report from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on “Climate Change and Country”. The report shows that the agri-food sector contributes as much as 21-37% of total anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.

Among other things, the Minister will urge his colleagues from other countries declare their intention to work towards healthier, safer and more sustainable food production. 
The World Food Summit will take place on the 29th and 30th of August and will include presentations and debates between politicians, researchers, business leaders and opinion-makers. Based on these, participants from across different sectors and continents will identify ambitious initiatives on topics such as dietary habits and resource-efficiency.

His Royal Highness The Crown Prince will attend the opening of the summit.

The political framework for the summit is the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, which were adopted by all UN member states in 2015. The UN Sustainable Development Goals are a “call to action” for all countries. It is generally acknowledged that a broad range of challenges are intertwined, and that economic growth must go hand in hand with dealing with climate change, improving health, and eradicating poverty and hunger. Food systems affect 12 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

The summit will be held in the Former Upper Chamber at Christiansborg Palace on 29 August from 11:30 to 17:00 and will continue on 30 August at the Confederation of Danish Industry, H.C. Andersens Boulevard 18 from 08:30 to 15:30. The conference will end with a presentation of the conclusions reached, a speech by Mogens Jensen, Minister for Food, Fisheries and Equal Opportunities and Minister for Nordic Cooperation and a signing ceremony.

Read the full programme for the World Food Summit 2019 here: www.bfmp.dk
Members of the press can register for the conference by calling +45 22 84 48 34 or sending an email to Obfuscated Email.

Further information: 
Press Secretary Jacob Haaning Andersen, Obfuscated Email+45 21 19 27 50