In a groundbreaking analysis, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has unveiled the staggering hidden costs of current agrifood systems, reaching an alarming $10 trillion annually, nearly 10% of the world’s GDP. <\/p>\n
This revelation comes from a comprehensive study covering 154 countries, shedding light on the multifaceted impact of hidden costs on health, the environment, and society.<\/p>\n
At a briefing for media organized by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization head office Ms Florene Rolle FAO Representative for Pakistan shared the salient features of
\nthe 2023 edition of The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) that says that over 70pc of these hidden costs stem from unhealthy diets prevalent in high- and upper-middle-income countries, contributing to obesity, non-communicable diseases, and substantial labor productivity losses.<\/p>\n
A significant portion, 1\/5th of the total costs, is environment-related, attributed to factors like greenhouse gases and nitrogen emissions, land-use change, and water use, posing a global challenge with underestimated scales due to data limitations, she said.<\/p>\n
Dr. Aamer Irshad
\nAssistant FAO Rep (Program) was also there to answer media queries.<\/p>\n
According to the report, low-income countries bear a disproportionate burden, with hidden costs exceeding a quarter of their GDP, highlighting the severe impact on poverty and undernourishment.<\/p>\n
The report advocates for true cost accounting (TCA), recommending to countries urging governments and the private sector toto conduct regular and detailed analyses, followed by strategic actions to mitigate these hidden harms. The FAO report uniquely disaggregates these costs to the national level, fostering comparability across categories and countries.<\/p>\n
To harness the potential of such an approach in transforming food systems, emphasize the gravity of the issue, FAO will dedicate two consecutive editions of The State of Food and Agriculture to the same theme. While this year’s report presents initial estimates, the 2024 edition will delve into in-depth targeted assessments to identify the most effective ways to mitigate these hidden costs.<\/p>\n
For Pakistan, the total quantified hidden costs of the agrifood system amount to approximately $161.8 billion USD (2020 PPP), constituting around 15% of the country’s GDP. These costs are categorized into environmental ($28.9 billion), social ($20.9 billion), and health ($112 billion) dimensions.<\/p>\n
A noteworthy distinction for Pakistan lies in the environmental realm, with a 10-percentage-point lower share (18% vs. 28%) in comparison to lower-middle-income countries. Conversely, health-related hidden costs show a 9-percentage-point increase (69% vs. 60%), emphasizing unique challenges in the country. Social hidden costs align closely with LMICs overall.
\nThe detailed distribution of hidden costs across sub-categories, especially the intriguing land-use change component representing a hidden benefit, underscores the complexity of the agrifood system’s impact on Pakistan’s economy and society.<\/p>\n
The report advocates for governments to utilize true cost accounting, emphasizing that addressing the climate crisis, poverty, inequality, and food security requires a transformative approach. It calls for innovative research, data investments, and capacity building to scale the application of true cost accounting transparently and consistently.<\/p>\n
As the FAO reveals the hidden costs of agrifood systems, the call for global awareness and action intensifies, urging stakeholders at all levels to play a pivotal role in steering agrifood systems towards sustainability.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In a groundbreaking analysis, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has unveiled the staggering hidden costs of current agrifood systems, reaching an alarming $10 trillion annually, nearly 10% of the world’s GDP. This revelation comes from a comprehensive study covering 154 countries, shedding light on the multifaceted impact of hidden costs […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":367968,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-367961","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n