ZERO HUNGER Lia van Wesenbeeck Amsterdam Centre for

ZERO HUNGER Lia van Wesenbeeck Amsterdam Centre for World Food Studies Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Food insecurity: a complex problem • Food insecurity • Undernutrition • Overnutrition malnutrition • No longer association with poverty … • But with long list of interrelated factors • Urbanization • Climate change • Water scarcity • Conflict • …. • Defining nexus to focus on specific elements relevant for specific conditions • Maintaining system approach • But also openness to explore non-standard fields of research

1. Climate change – Inclusive Business nexus Climate change • Climate change threatens food security • More erratic rainfall Decreased capacity for coping Increased vulnerability • Shifts in growing periods • Pests and diseases enter new areas • Food insecurity reduces capacity to cope with or mitigate climate change • No resources for investment • Forced unsustainable use of resources Increased food insecurity • Financial diaries • Innovative finance • Landscape approach

2. Water-Energy-Food Nexus • Middle East • Water scarcity serious constraint for development in general • And particularly also for food security • Competition for water between humans, animals, agriculture, industry • Current situation unsustainable Increased groundwater extraction Increased water and food scarcity Higher demand for energy Increased competition for water Increased production of energy Increased water demand • Groundwater extraction exceeds replenishment by far • Not only quantitative problems, but also qualitative issues • Energy demand increases because of need to extract the water from ever deeper layers • • Pilot study on covering canals with solar panels, Jordan Pilot study sustainable family farming, Jordan Pilot study female rose cultivation, Palestine Upscaling of results with economic-hydrological-energy model

3. Food security – Human security nexus Human and female security • Conflict leads to loss of assets • • For females, physical unsafety adds to this Partnership The Netherlands –World Bank ACWFS – WUR – Clingendael join forces Supporting World Bank in planning interventions • Iraq, Mali-Burkina Faso-Niger • Hopefully also Somalia, Yemen • Confinement to home Conflict • Loss of dignity/empowerment • Female empowerment vital for food Food insecurity • Failing food security leads to more conflict Loss of assets Conflict Food insecurity Loss of assets Decreasing empowerment Physical unsafety

Opportunities for Aurora academic cooperation • Different countries have different networks in African/Asian/Latin American countries • Different universities have specific research fields of exceptional strength • Food security requires system approach with many disciplines involved • Consortia of Aurora Universities would be much more effective in contributing to nexus than single universities or within-country consortia • Seek cross-disciplinary connections • In addition: • Education greatly benefits from real case studies that students can relate and contribute to • Sharing research also implies sharing this experience

Connecting to social entrepreneurship and innovation • Every nexus has own need for innovation and social entrepreneurship • Inclusive business: • New delivery models/new financial products • ICT innovations, ICT entrepreneurship • Financial products • Food-Energy-Water • Solar power innovations targeted for inclusiveness • Off grid storage innovation • Ensuring access for remote and poor households • Water conservation/water harvesting • Family farms and rose cultivation • Direct link through PUM specialists • Sustainable family farming (energy and water!): dedicated innovation • Food security – Female security • From smart cities to smart rural areas • Connecting technique with social sciences • Innovations in lawmaking/profiling and link with agronomy Transdisciplinary approach!