The Road to the SDGs

X The new programming framework reveals that there is significant untapped potential in production capacities of IsDB countries, such that: – MCs are losing out on value creation through massive food wastage along the value chain – Infrastructure investments, better farm management and education of smallholders can significantly boost agricultural output – There is potential for MCs to boost value creation by expanding their food processing activities – While MCs currently have a limited presence in food processing, there are opportunities in both primary and secondary processing for higher value creation in many industries. X The new programming framework sets out the opportunities and challenges facing IsDB MCs. It recognises that: – Productivity champions among IsDB countries display high levels of agricultural productivity and are integrated into the GVC – Production-focused countries have well-established agricultural sectors, but lack productivity, processing capabilities and adequate infrastructure – Domestic-focused countries are heavily dependent on farm output, but their levels of productivity and mechanisation are too low to lift most farmers out of subsistence agriculture. X It highlights: – The need for productivity champions to invest in innovation and sustainability to maintain output and expand market share – The potential for production- focused countries to expand their processing footprint to increase their share of market value – The opportunities for domestic markets to increase productivity through mechanisation and scale, to eliminate food insecurity and meet national demand. ACHIEVEMENTS X The framework lays the groundwork for MCs to achieve their required targets in agri-food production. By taking decisive and innovative actions, MCs can: – Generate additional agri-food exports worth US$ 380 billion – Transform the labour market, improving qualification and income levels for 170 million people – Eradicate severe food insecurity for at least 40 million people. X To help MCs achieve these outcomes, the framework also addresses: – The extent to which management systems can offer potential to improve sustainability in production – The control measures that need to be introduced to stop deforestation and loss of biodiversity, given that farmers often lack TA and know-how – The importance of private sector involvement in driving the expansion of value-adding processing to yield higher value creation, with a focus on risk sharing and cooperation models between the private and public sectors – The availability through IsDB of joint project financing and risk sharing as well as access to high-level decision makers to incentivise collaboration – The way affordable low-tech innovations can boost resource efficiency and productivity (for example, modern drip irrigation systems can increase non-flooded rice yields by up to 30% while reducing water consumption by 50%) – The way digital solutions can be leveraged to improve farmers’ living conditions and incomes, connecting them to the value chain – The role of cooperative leasing models in enabling mechanisation and strengthening smallholders’ productivity by connecting lenders, equipment providers and farmers to drive mechanisation. INVESTMENT X IsDB increased its allocation towards the new programming framework to 40% of the Annual Operations Plan and will gradually increase it to 80%. X As a first step, IsDB published a report on the likely future of the industry in the post-COVID-19 era. M E M B E R C O U N T R I E S C A N Generate additional agri-food exports worth US$380 billion Transform the labour market, improving income levels for 170 million people [ 223 ] T H E R O A D T O T H E S D G s | P R O G R E S S A N D A C H I E V E M E N T S