9:00 – 9:30 AM KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Derek Yach

Emerging ideas about how private-public collaboration could contribute solutions to the long-term food crises.

Jeff Sachs is introducing Derek Yach, who is to deliver the keynote speech.

Dr. Yach is stressing that the the food crisis is a nutrition crisis. We have one billion people that are overweight, and one billion under-nourished. We need to achieve optimal nutrition for all.

He is summarizing the state of the food crisis and the causes of it. The nutrition crisis is also related to the food crisis. Nutrition science has not received the support it needs. Emphasizes failed governance in nutrition systems.

He is also recapping progress made, and the achievements of many of the people in the room that we will hear from today.

Specific actions we could be engaging in:

• Businesses need to be more connected, rather than acting individually.
  
• More research needs to be done on improved seeds and technologies to improve yields and nutritional quality.
  
• Businesses could use local sourcing in a ethically sound manner.
• Retail changes can work with goverments to provide a balanced food basket available to consumers.
• Programs to fortify staples and provide ready-to-eat therapeutic foods.
  
• Need to incentivize companies to provide for complimentary feeding.
  
• The demand for meat is in response to a lack of protein. We need to provide more sustainable alternate protein sources in addition to beef.
• Governments need to give more incentives for businesses.

Global action needs more than the cooperation of WHO and FAO, but needs wider range of players including NGOs and businesses.

The aim is to increase optimal nutritional for all within the context of sustainable development.