Global Governance and Food Security as Global Public Good

22agricultural production and thus directly contribute togeneral “health” of the population;• Transparency of food commodity markets at global,regional, national and local level to prevent marketfailures, and thus contribute to “market efficiency” and“international trading systems”;• Investment in agricultural research and educationresults in ecologically correct agriculture, as well asin adaptation of production systems to new climaticconditions, and thus contributes to tackling thechallenges of “climate change”;• Provision of adequately priced food products tourban consumers, and support to small holders inmaintaining their livelihood, diminish food insecurity,and the political unrest or instability caused by erraticprice movements or undersupply. This contributes to“peace and security”;93. It is evident that issues related to global and individualfood security can no longer be resolved throughaction limited to the national or local level, but thatthere is need for cooperation and coordinated multistakeholderaction at the global level and with aglobal perspective. The interdependency of nationalfood-related production systems and markets, dueto their vertical and horizontal integration, and theirdependence on the global financial and energymarkets, means that national policies alone cannotfully buffer against risks like inefficiencies and volatility.94. Yet most food production systems and markets aredominated by private actors who in many casesoperate through global corporations that functionaccording to the principles of private business.Implicitly less profitable research areas may beneglected; research is therefore biased against smallholders and biodiversity, and not necessarily gearedtowards the needs of the vulnerable populationgroups or markets with reduced purchasing power.There are examples where environmental concernsbecame part of corporate business strategies dueto increasing importance of responsible corporateentrepreneurship in the public debate and betterunderstanding of long-term sustainable profits.Barring this, investments in support of environmentalgoals depend on the public sector.95. The effects of climate change require adaptation offood production systems, but many governments inthe developing world may not have the resourcesrequired to support research and implementationof mitigation systems. Similarly challenging will beidentifying mitigating actions that are affordablefor smallholders. Responses at the national level willnot be sufficient to buffer against country-level foodinsecurity and failure to address these global trendswill have transnational repercussions and inaction willresult in Global Public Bads.96. Mitigating against food insecurity requiresacknowledgment that private corporations are keyplayers in the global food security system, and thatthey have the capacity to resist or avoid nationallegislations, particularly in developing countries. Giventhat it is unlikely that the current approach to privatemanagement of food supply chains and markets willchange, the only solution is to involve these privateand non-state actors in the global governance of foodsecurity in the broad sense. This emerging role hasbeen acknowledged by the inclusion of the privatesector in the CFS and FAO’s efforts of defining a“Strategy for Partnerships with the Private Sector ” 57going in this direction.97. The fact that the “right to food” is an accepted humanright will continue to create political pressure indeveloped countries to provide protective support tothe vulnerable populations concerned.57. CL 146/LIM/4: FAO Strategy for Partnerships with the Private Sector, March 2013, and CL146/8: FAO Strategy for Partnerships with Civil Society Organizations, April 2013.NYUCICGlobal Governance and Food Security as Global Public Good