Ministers, distinguished guests.

It’s a pleasure for me to open this year’s World Food Summit directly from the Danish Parliament in Copenhagen.

This Summit addresses some of our time’s most fundamental issues, the consequences of climate change and the impact on our global food system.  

With every year going by, extreme weather events such as floodings, droughts, wildfires, heavy rain, massive snowfall and large storms are becoming more frequent and more intense, having devastating effects all over the globe.

To put it short, our current food system is not sustainable. We need to rethink the different steps in the global food production value chain and encourage the green transition, on the consumer side and the production side.  

Transforming our current food system into a climate-smart, green and resilient value chain is a major but necessary task to meet the future demand for food in a sustainable way.

The task, lady and gentlemen, is not by any means an easy one. We need our food systems to deliver food security and nutrition for all. To be economically sustainable. To be inclusive. And to have a positive impact on our climate and environment.

One thing is certain. Going green and working together is the only way ahead. The sooner we act, invest and commit ourselves, the sooner we will reap the benefits.

In the last couple of years, we have seen how international collaboration, have enabled us to achieve very ambitious common goals at an unbelievable speed. The development of the Covid Vaccine is a case of inspiration.

Bold steps are necessary – I am confident that this Summit will bring all participants closer together in achieving the common goal of securing a sustainable global food system.

I wish you all a successful Summit! Thank you.

 

(Det talte ord gælder)