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World Food Day: Idris Elba pushes “climate-smart” agriculture

The British actor says world leaders’ pledge to end hunger by 2030 appears to be skidding off track.

• October 18, 2020
Food Items at Utako Market, Abuja (Credit: Ahmed Oluwasanjo)
Food Items (Credit: Ahmed Oluwasanjo)

British actor Idris Elba has called on world leaders to invest in “climate-smart” agriculture to save people from hunger. 

“On the day you read this message, an estimated 2 billion people will have gone to bed hungry or without safe, sufficient or nutritious food on your watch,” Mr. Elba said in a message to commemorate World Food Day.

Mr. Elba reminded leaders of their resolve to end hunger by 2030 but warned that such resolve appears to be going off track.

In 2015, member nations adopted The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Key to that agenda is a call for accelerated action to end poverty and hunger by 2030 which are relayed as goal one and two.

Mr. Elba stated that food availability is continuously being threatened by climate change- flooding and drought and conflicts, especially in Africa are making it harder to get enough good food to all people.

“I am relying on you to step up and invest more in climate-smart agriculture and rural areas so farmers can weather any storm, grow more food, create more jobs and ensure that no child goes to bed unsure of where their next meal will come from,” Mr. Elba said.

Mr. Elba and his wife Sabrina are UN Goodwill Ambassadors. In April 2020, they launched a $200 million appeal for IFAD’s coronavirus relief fund for rural communities.

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