Calls for Action
Universities and research institutions should partner to increase agriculture and alternative protein research to increase global food security
Bruce Friedrich cited a study showing cultivated meat could free up 3 billion hectares of land for food production and Michael Kremer's commission identified alternative proteins as an intervention to decrease malnutrition
See Appendix i. Alternative Proteins and Malnutrition
National governments, helped by organisations like the World Bank should implement the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative framework in more resource-producing countries based on its success in curbing corruption through multi-stakeholder decision making
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI): By becoming a member of the EITI, countries commit to disclose information along the extractive industry value chain – from how extraction rights are awarded, to how revenues make their way through government and how they benefit the public.
The UN should establish a Global Anti-Corruption Court to prosecute high-level graft cases (political corruption) involving transnational bribery schemes and hold political leaders accountable
Establish independent oversight commissions in authoritarian states exploiting poverty and conflict, with powers to sanction officials, in order to curb threats to stability from leaders undermining anti-poverty efforts
See Appendix ii. Authoritarian states exploiting poverty and conflict
Condition international aid and investment on anti-corruption reforms like contract transparency, independent oversight bodies and protections for whistleblowers.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) should reform agricultural subsidies conditioned on shifting away from animal feed crops toward more sustainable options, due to the inefficiencies of industrial agriculture
Shift away from industrial agriculture's reliance on mono-cropping for animal feed and biofuels in order to free up land and resources for direct human consumption of crops
See Appendix iii. Why reform agricultural subsidies conditioned on shifting away from animal feed crops toward more sustainable options, due to the inefficiencies of industrial agriculture?
Create a Global Poverty Observatory within the UN to monitor socioeconomic indicators, report annually on progress, and advise on systemic reforms needed based on systemic factors that contribute to poverty
Bodies such as the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), African Union or the European Union could collaborate
See Appendix iv. Systemic factors that contribute to poverty
Main Outcomes
Poverty remains the most important global issue and is a root cause of other problems like famine, terrorism and political instability.
Progress is being made but setbacks like COVID-19 mean the UN's 2030 goals may not be achievable without systemic economic and political reforms.
Multi-stakeholder cooperation is needed between public, private and civil society sectors to effectively combat issues of poverty, hunger and corruption.
Panel Discussion Summary
The panel discussion “How to End Extreme Poverty by 2030” was moderated by Dana Gold. Keynote speaker Bob Geldof argued that poverty underlies global issues and will persist without systemic economic and political reforms. Panellist Bruce Friedrich from the Good Food Institute outlined developing alternative proteins through cultivated meat and plant-based options to increase food access and security. Finally, Panellist Peter Eigen, founder of Transparency International, advocated for multi-stakeholder cooperation between governments, civil panelits society and businesses through deliberative decision-making models.
In conclusion, while the panellists acknowledged some gains in reducing poverty levels over recent decades, the consensus was that meeting the UN's 2030 deadline will require unprecedented cooperation and systemic reforms across political and economic institutions worldwide. Panellist Bob Geldof argued that poverty underlies global issues like famine, conflict and migration, and will persist without systemic reforms to political and economic structures given ongoing failures to adequately address the root causes of this immense challenge.
Key obstacles discussed included entrenched corruption enabling authoritarian leaders, failures of democratic governance, and the lack of equitable multi-stakeholder frameworks for issues like sustainable agriculture and food security. Moreover, key calls to action included designing sustainable food systems supporting small farmers, reforming democracies for 21st century challenges, and utilising all means to curb threats from leaders undermining anti-poverty efforts through conflict and human rights abuses.