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FAO Director-General inaugurates World Sustainable Urban Food Centre (CEMAS)
23.07.2019 18:13 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) —
As of this year Jul 22, within Valencia (Spain), the World Sustainable Urban Food Centre (CEMAS) was inaugurated, FAO reports.
It is to be admitted, the Centre is chaired by Her Majesty Queen Letizia of Spain, FAO’s Special Ambassador for Nutrition.
As to the report, while speaking within the inauguration ceremony, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva urged cities around the world today to redouble their efforts to promote healthier and more sustainable urban diets and food systems to tackle the boosting levels of overweight and obesity.
«There are already more obese people than hungry people worldwide. People are eating badly, and the main reason is that current food systems encourage the consumption of ultra-processed foods, which are high in salt, sugar, saturated fats and artificial ingredients,» he said, warning of the rising «pandemic» of obesity within the five continents.
This type of food, he said, is cheaper, more accessible and easier to prepare than fresh food, particularly for the population of the suburbs and rural areas.
Upon whole, he admitted, when the resources are scarce, people tend to choose less expensive foods, which are usually «very high in calories but not very nutritious».
The FAO Director-General stressed that processed foods also fare better on the international markets: «This particularly affects the population of countries that must import most of the food, as in the case of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and some African countries. This is the reason behind the high obesity levels in the Caribbean and Pacific islands, where the average rate is 60% and 70%, respectively,» he stressed.
It is to be admitted, CEMAS is an initiative of the city of Valencia, with technical support from FAO, to strengthen, advise and coordinate cities around the world as for management and exchange of knowledge on sustainable local food systems.
The new centre will also carry out dissemination and public awareness activities on issues related to food, nutrition, the fight against hunger, climate change and food systems.
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