Food security and climate change

The High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE) was established in 2010 as part of the reform of the World Committee on Food Security (CFS). The main role of the HLPE is to provide, at request of the CFS, policyoriented analysis and advice, to underpin policy formulation and the work of CFS. Thus, the HLPE serves as CFS’s science-policy interface, thereby helping to generate synergy between science and public policy and action. The HLPE functions through a Steering Committee comprising 15 distinguished experts from around the world, and which I have the honor to Chair. Our reports are demand driven, specifically requested by the CFS and prepared for discussion at CFS’s annual plenary meetings. In 2010, the HLPE prepared two reports, one dealing with Land Tenure and International Investments in Agriculture, and another, dealing with Price Volatility and Food Security. These reports nourished the policy debates at the 37th CFS meeting in October 2011. They were highly commended with reference to their contemporary relevance and feasibility of implementation. At its meeting held in October 2010, the CFS requested the HLPE to prepare reports on Climate Change and Food Security, and Social Protection for Food Security, which we are presenting this year.