GEF 5: Gustavo Merino, Director, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Italy talks about the link between climate change and food security. He says as the world’s population is predicted to increase from 7 to 9 billion, food production will need to be increased by 60%, but it must be done sustainably.

Merino says on the one hand, the agricultural sector is responsible for land degradation, the overuse of resources such as water and fish stocks and also 30% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, but on the other hand, the agricultural sector is needed to provide food for a growing world population.

He says it is therefore the FAO’s mission to eradicate food insecurity by increasing food production sustainably. The FAO is working together with GEF to assist countries by providing support for projects that address sustainable food production. Merino adds that the FAO is currently supporting over 100 projects in countries around the world who are recipients of GEF funding.