A/RES/70/198 GA

United Nations A/RES/70/198 General Assembly Distr.: General 16 February 2016 Seventieth session Agenda item 20 15-16952 (E) *1516952* Please recycle Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 22 December 2015 [on the report of the Second Committee (A/70/472)] 70/198. Agricultural technology for sustainable development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 68/209 of 20 December 2013, Reaffirming its resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, in which it adopted a comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and transformative Sustainable Development Goals and targets, its commitment to working tirelessly for the full implementation of this Agenda by 2030, its recognition that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, its commitment to achieving sustainable development in its three dimensions — economic, social and environmental — in a balanced and integrated manner, and to building upon the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals and seeking to address their unfinished business, Reaffirming also its resolution 69/313 of 27 July 2015 on the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, which is an integral part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, supports and complements it, helps to contextualize its means of implementation targets with concrete policies and actions, and reaffirms the strong political commitment to address the challenge of financing and creating an enabling environment at all levels for sustainable development in the spirit of global partnership and solidarity, Recalling the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development,1 Agenda 21,2 the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, 3 the Johannesburg _______________ 1 Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex I. 2 Ibid., annex II. 3 Resolution S-19/2, annex. A/RES/70/198 Agricultural technology for sustainable development 2/6 Declaration on Sustainable Development 4 and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg Plan of Implementation),5 Recalling also the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 20 to 22 June 2012, entitled “The future we want”,6 Welcoming the Zero Hunger Challenge initiative launched by the Secretary- General at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development as a vision for a future free from hunger, and taking note of the joint report of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the World Food Programme on the critical role of investments in social protection and agriculture, Recalling its resolution 66/222 of 22 December 2011 on the International Year of Family Farming, 2014, which raised the profile of the role of family farming and smallholder farming in contributing to the achievement of food security and improved nutrition, Recalling also its resolution 68/232 of 20 December 2013 on World Soil Day and the International Year of Soils, by which it designated 5 December as World Soil Day and declared 2015 the International Year of Soils, with the aim of increasing awareness and understanding of the importance of soil to food security and essential ecosystem functions, Welcoming the outcome of the forty-second session of the Committee on World Food Security, held in Rome from 12 to 15 October 2015, taking note of the Committee’s voluntary Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems,7 and recalling its Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security, 8 Welcoming also the Sendai Declaration and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030,9 adopted at the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, Welcoming further the launch of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism established in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda in order to support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, Recalling relevant strategies and programmes of action, including the Istanbul Declaration and Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011–2020, 10 the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway,11 the Vienna Declaration and Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2014–2024,12 reaffirming the importance of _______________ 4 Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August–4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. 5 Ibid., resolution 2, annex. 6 Resolution 66/288, annex. 7 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, document C 2015/20, appendix D. 8 Ibid., document CL 144/9 (C 2013/20), appendix D. 9 Resolution 69/283, annexes I and II. 10 Report of the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, Istanbul, Turkey, 9–13 May 2011 (A/CONF.219/7), chaps. I and II. 11 Resolution 69/15, annex. 12 Resolution 69/137, annexes I and II. Agricultural technology for sustainable development A/RES/70/198 3/6 supporting the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the programme of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development,13 and recognizing the major challenge to the achievement of durable peace and sustainable development in countries in conflict and post-conflict situations, Recognizing that agricultural technology will have a beneficial impact on and an important role in the successful implementation of the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Acknowledging the positive transformative potential of strengthened urban- rural linkages in achieving sustainable development, and noting in that regard the holding of the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in 2016, Stressing the crucial role of women in the agricultural sector and their contribution to enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and nutrition and eradicating rural poverty, and underlining the fact that meaningful progress in agricultural development necessitates, inter alia, closing the gender gap and ensuring that women have equal access to agricultural technologies, related services and inputs and all necessary productive resources, including tenure rights and access to land, fisheries and forests, as well as to affordable education and training, social services, social protection, health care, health services and financial services, and access to and participation in markets, Recognizing that young people play a significant role in supporting sustainable economic growth and that agricultural technology has an essential role to play in facilitating access to agricultural skills for young women and men, improving the livelihoods of youth and securing the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, Noting that sustainable agricultural technology, adapted to the needs of smallholders and family farmers, in particular women and youth in rural areas, can contribute to their transition from subsistence farming to innovative, commercial production, helping them to increase their own food security and nutrition, generate marketable surpluses and add value to their production, Acknowledging the role and work of civil society and the private sector in furthering progress in developing countries and promoting sustainable agriculture and management practices, the use of agricultural technology and the training of smallholder farmers, in particular rural women, Emphasizing the need to continue to innovate in agriculture food chains in order to respond to the challenges posed by, inter alia, climate change, the depletion and scarcity of natural resources, urbanization and globalization, and recognizing that agricultural research and sustainable agricultural technologies can contribute greatly to agricultural, rural and economic development, the adaptation of agriculture, food security and nutrition, help to build resilience and mitigate the negative impact of climate change, desertification, land degradation and drought, Stressing the need to support and strengthen information systems and statistical systems for better disaggregated data collection and processing, which will be key in monitoring progress in the adoption of sustainable agricultural technologies and their impact on improving food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture, _______________ 13 A/57/304, annex. A/RES/70/198 Agricultural technology for sustainable development 4/6 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;14 2. Urges Member States, relevant United Nations organizations and other stakeholders to strengthen efforts to improve the development of sustainable agricultural technologies and their transfer and dissemination under mutually agreed terms to developing countries, especially the least developed countries, in particular at the bilateral and regional levels, and to support national efforts to foster the utilization of local know-how and agricultural technologies, promote agricultural technology research and access to knowledge and information through suitable communication for development strategies and enable rural women, as well as men and youth, to increase sustainable agricultural productivity, reduce post-harvest losses and enhance food and nutritional security; 3. Encourages international, regional and national efforts to strengthen capacity in developing countries, especially that of smallholder and family farmers, in particular rural women and youth, in order to enhance the productivity and nutritional quality of food crops and animal products, promote sustainable practices in pre-harvest and post-harvest agricultural activities and enhance food security and nutrition-related programmes and policies that take into consideration the specific needs of women, young children and youth, with particular attention to securing the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour; 4. Calls upon Member States and relevant United Nations organizations and other stakeholders to mainstream gender perspectives into agricultural policies and projects and to focus on closing the gender gap by, inter alia, encouraging gender- balanced investments, in order to achieve equal access for women to labour-saving technologies and agricultural technology information and know-how, equipment, decision-making forums and associated agricultural resources to ensure that agriculture, food security and nutrition-related programmes and policies take into consideration the specific needs of women and the barriers that women face in accessing agricultural inputs and resources; 5. Encourages Governments to develop and implement youth-focused agricultural development projects and programmes, including through training, education, financial inclusion services, including microcredit services, and capacity- building, including with regard to innovation, in association with the private sector, in order to stimulate the interest and the involvement of youth in agriculture; 6. Acknowledges the need to revitalize the agricultural sector, promote rural development and ensure food security, notably in developing countries, in a sustainable manner, reaffirms the commitment to supporting sustainable agriculture, forestry, fisheries and pastoralism and to taking action to fight hunger and malnutrition among the urban poor, recognizes the enormous investment needs in those areas, and encourages increased public and private investments; 7. Invites Governments and international organizations, in collaboration with cooperatives and cooperative organizations, to promote, as appropriate, consistent with the rules of the World Trade Organization, the growth of agricultural cooperatives through easy access to affordable finance, the adoption of sustainable production techniques, investment in rural infrastructure and irrigation, strengthened marketing mechanisms, access to appropriate risk management instruments and support for the participation of women and youth in economic activities; _______________ 14 A/70/298. Agricultural technology for sustainable development A/RES/70/198 5/6 8. Underlines the importance of supporting and advancing research in improving and diversifying crop varieties and seed systems, as well as supporting the establishment of sustainable agricultural systems and management practices, such as conservation agriculture, animal disease control and integrated pest management, in order to make agriculture more resilient and, in particular, to make crops and farm animals more tolerant to diseases, pests and environmental stresses, including drought and climate change, in accordance with national regulations and relevant international agreements; 9. Stresses the need to significantly reduce pre-harvest, post-harvest and other food losses and waste throughout the food supply chain through, inter alia, improved production planning, the promotion of resource-efficient production and processing practices, improved preservation and packing technologies, improved transportation and logistics management and enhanced awareness of purchasing and consumption habits, to help all actors in the value chain to enjoy greater benefits; 10. Underlines the importance of the sustainable use and management of water resources to increase and ensure agricultural productivity, and calls for further efforts to develop and strengthen irrigation facilities and water-saving technology; 11. Encourages Member States, civil society and public and private institutions to develop partnerships to support financial and market services, including training, capacity-building, infrastructure and extension services, and calls for further efforts by all stakeholders to include smallholder farmers, in particular rural women and youth, in planning and taking decisions about making appropriate sustainable agricultural technologies and practices accessible and affordable to them; 12. Recognizes the potential of information and communications technology as a tool for improving agricultural productivity, practices and smallholder livelihoods, strengthening agricultural markets and institutions, improving agricultural services, empowering farmer communities and connecting farmers in developing countries to regional and global agricultural markets, and stresses the need to ensure the access of women and youth to information and communication technology, especially in rural areas; 13. Calls upon Member States to include sustainable agricultural development as an integral part of their national policies and strategies, notes the positive impact that North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation can have in this regard, and urges the relevant bodies of the United Nations system to include elements of agricultural technology, research and development in efforts to realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,15 with a focus on the research and development of technology that is affordable, durable and sustainable and that can be easily used by and disseminated to smallholder farmers, in particular rural women; 14. Requests relevant United Nations organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, to promote, support and facilitate the exchange of experience among Member States through, inter alia, guidance and other public goods related to ways to augment sustainable agriculture and management practices, such as conservation agriculture, and to increase the adaptive capacity of agriculture and the use of agricultural technologies that support more sustainable food systems and have a positive impact on the entire value chain, including technology for _______________ 15 Resolution 70/1. A/RES/70/198 Agricultural technology for sustainable development 6/6 post-harvest crop storage, processing, handling and transportation, including in pressing environmental circumstances; 15. Underlines the instrumental role of agricultural technology, agricultural research and technology transfer on mutually agreed terms and the sharing of knowledge and practices in furthering sustainable development and in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, calls, therefore, upon Member States and encourages relevant international bodies to support sustainable agricultural research and development, and in this regard calls for continued support to the international agricultural research system, including the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers and other relevant international organizations and initiatives; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its seventy-second session a report on the implementation of the present resolution, and decides to include the item entitled “Sustainable development” in the provisional agenda of its seventy-second session, unless otherwise agreed in the discussions on the revitalization of the Second Committee. 81st plenary meeting 22 December 2015

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