The UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS) has acknowledged concerns around the impact of biofuel production on food security, stating on Friday that the "progressive realization of the right to adequate food for all" should be a priority concern in biofuel development.

During its most recent meeting, held last week, the influential intergovernmental panel said biofuel development "should not compromise food security, and should especially consider women and smallholders." The meeting was attended by 750 people, including over 130 government delegations, 100 civil society and 50  private sector organizations.

Following the talks, the CFS also called for more support for smallholder agriculture, and demanded the key area of farming should be represented in national policies, strategies, and research aimed at boosting investment and sustainable development. Family farmers, fishers and others whose livelihoods depend on smallholder agriculture in developing countries account for most of the 840 million chronically hungry people in the world, according to the recent UN hunger report, the State of Food Insecurity in the World.

Opportunities and risks

On the subject of biofuels and food security, informed by a report from the High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) on Food Security and Nutrition, the CFS noted that biofuel development encompassed "both opportunities and risks in economic, social and environmental aspects," depending on the context and practices. "In some cases, current biofuel production creates competition between biofuel crops and food crops," it added.

"Governments and other appropriate stakeholders are encouraged to review biofuels policies… according to balanced science-based assessments of the opportunities and risks they may present for food security," the Committee said.

Investment in smallholders

On the issue of investment in smallholder agriculture, also informed by an HLPE report, the CFS adopted a policy recommendation calling on governments, together with smallholder organizations, civil society, the private sector, research institutions and international development partners, to work together to "build a country-owned vision" designed to boost investments in smallholder agriculture.

The CFS recommended countries consider how agricultural, urban and rural sector policies, strategies and budgets could best enable smallholder access to productive assets, local, national and regional markets, appropriate training, research, technology and farm support services - especially for women.

The importance of smallholder agriculture will be highlighted in 2014 during the International Year of Family Farming.