Based on the concept of people, planet and profit the main pillars were: (1) to eradicate hunger and malnutrition, (2) to promote inclusive and sustainable growth in the agricultural sector and improve the income potentials of SMEs and farmers leading to economic growth, (3) to achieve ecologically sustainable food systems. Alarming rates of population growth in particular in developing countries were noted.
People: The focus shifted from country specific programs to global initiatives such as the GAIN, SUN, AIM. The potentials of productive safety nets were recognized.
Planet: Climate change, degradation of ecosystems (reducing biodiversity and soil fertility) and decreased availability of (fresh)water resources were seen as threats for food security. Landscape approaches were introduced; taking into account the broader environment ‘beyond the farm’.
Profit: Multiple private sector instruments aimed at improving value chains (beyond primary agriculture) and increasing employment with a special focus on youth and women. Trade facilitation was perceived to increase access to markets. Policy dialogues were considered necessary to create an enabling environment for private sector development.
In the wake of rising food prices in 2007 and 2008 and famines in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel region, food security became a spearhead program in Dutch development cooperation in 2013. In the 2014 policy note, nutrition concerns were explicitly considered while maintaining a focus on the role of the private sector in conjunction with the government (creating an enabling business environment and public-private partnerships) and Dutch knowledge institutions. The 2014 Letter to Parliament on food and nutrition security further emphasized nutrition and ecological sustainability in addition to improving the livelihoods of small-scale farmers. Support to agri-business SMEs was primarily through private sector instruments and public-private partnerships[2]. Financial inclusion was considered a core issue to support farmers and SMEs.
[2] A Public Private Partnership in Food Commercialization
High-quality organic vegetables from Tanzania