Second International Conference on Nutrition

Second International Conference on Nutrition was a high-level intergovernmental meeting co-convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization. Held in Rome in 2014, it aimed to address the persistent and emerging challenges of malnutrition in all its forms. The conference brought together representatives from over 170 countries, including heads of state, ministers, and leaders from United Nations agencies and civil society organizations. Its primary outcome was the adoption of two key documents: the Rome Declaration on Nutrition and a voluntary Framework for Action.

Background and context

The conference was convened nearly two decades after the landmark World Food Summit and the first International Conference on Nutrition in 1992, which was also held in Rome. Despite progress, the global burden of malnutrition remained severe, with issues like undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and obesity coexisting in many nations, a situation described as the double burden of malnutrition. This period followed major international efforts like the Millennium Development Goals and preceded the negotiation of the Sustainable Development Goals, positioning nutrition as a critical cross-cutting issue for global health and sustainable development. The initiative gained momentum through prior advocacy from entities like the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement and reports from the Lancet Series on maternal and child nutrition.

Organization and participants

The event was jointly organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization, with the host venue being the FAO headquarters in Rome. High-level participation included Pope Francis, who addressed the conference, along with Queen Letizia of Spain and numerous heads of state and government, such as the President of Côte d'Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara. Delegations from over 170 member states attended, comprising ministers of health, agriculture, and development. The conference also engaged a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including representatives from other United Nations bodies like the World Food Programme and UNICEF, as well as non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and academic institutions such as the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Key themes and discussions

Central debates focused on transforming food systems to deliver sustainable, healthy diets and addressing all forms of malnutrition through coherent public policies. Discussions emphasized the need for greater policy integration between agriculture, health, and social protection sectors, moving beyond traditional siloed approaches. Specific topics included improving food security, promoting breastfeeding, regulating the marketing of foods to children, and reducing salt, sugar, and trans fat in the food supply. The role of trade agreements and investment in shaping food environments, as well as the importance of social protection programs and women's empowerment, were also critically examined.

Outcomes and declarations

The principal outcomes were the unanimous adoption of the Rome Declaration on Nutrition and an accompanying Framework for Action. The Rome Declaration on Nutrition contained a series of political commitments to eradicate hunger and prevent all forms of malnutrition worldwide. The Framework for Action provided a set of 60 recommended policy options and strategies for governments to implement, organized around key areas like sustainable, resilient food systems and aligned health systems. These documents explicitly called for making nutrition a central pillar of the post-2015 development agenda and urged increased resources and strengthened governance, including through platforms like the Committee on World Food Security.

Follow-up and impact

The conference directly influenced the inclusion of comprehensive nutrition targets within Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) and Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being). It provided a foundation for the subsequent proclamation of the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition by the United Nations General Assembly. The event also galvanized national action, with many countries, such as Brazil and Peru, using the framework to shape or strengthen their national nutrition plans. Its policy recommendations continue to inform the work of major global initiatives, including the World Health Assembly nutrition targets and the Global Nutrition Report.

Category:Food and Agriculture Organization Category:World Health Organization Category:Nutrition conferences Category:2014 conferences Category:International conferences in Italy