Greetings from Washington. I want to thank the International Food and Policy Research Institute and the Government of India for hosting this importance conference on leveraging agriculture for improving nutrition and health. This issue cuts to the core of a global crisis that demands action. Nearly a billion people worldwide are suffering from hunger. Three and a half million children die every year because of under nutrition.
A crisis of this magnitude will be solved only through an intensive global effort that brings together governments, the private sector, NGOs, scientists, and citizens, all united to forge a comprehensive, coordinated strategy. By investing in high impact interventions, you are at the cutting edge of progress. I urge you to use your time together to find ways for all of us to do even more, more to improve agricultural productivity, more to connect farmers to markets, more to increase access to nutritious crops and healthcare, and more to support the women who are growing food and caring for children around the world.
The United States is committed to this fight by investing in drought-tolerant and vitamin-rich crops through our Feed the Future Global Hunger and Food Security Initiative and by providing micronutrients to pregnant women and children through our Global Health Initiative and also by helping nutrition champions implement country-led solutions through The 1,000 Days, a global movement to improve maternal and child nutrition. We are working closely with our partners, including other countries, multilateral organizations, NGOs, and research centers worldwide.
I know we have a lot to learn from each other, and we have a lot we can achieve together. I look forward to continuing this work with you. I thank you for your commitment and I wish you a most successful and productive conference. Thank you very much.
