Ahead of UN Food Systems Summit, over 100 countries came together to discuss how to transform their national food systems to drive progress against the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
At a Pre-Summit in Rome, Italy, over 500 in-person delegates and over 20,000 virtual delegates, from 190 countries, indicate effort in implementing more changes to sustainable, equitable, resilient and nutritious food systems after an extensive process of engagement and dialogues seeking new ideas and evidence-based solutions.
The process will culminate at a Head of State-level Summit in New York this September.
As national pathways began to take shape, the UN Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed previewed the emerging global coalitions that would champion further progress.
In her word, the Deputy Secretary General said “Anything we do must always include those at the center of our food systems: smallholder farmers, indigenous peoples and especially women and youth,”
Furthermore she said “Just as food brings us together as cultures and communities, it can bring us together around solutions. But what is clear is there is no one-size fits all solution. Our diversity is our strength and reflects the complexity of our world.”
The coalitions are aligned with common themes where as a global community there is a need to support efforts at country-level by working with governments to come through on their visions and priorities.
Reacting to the recent G20 Matera Declaration on food security, Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luigi di Maio called it “a prime example of how joint political action can lead to broader results on the ground.”
Early commitments before the Summit in September came as the Prince of Wales raised the alarm on the impact of failed food systems on our health and planet, he said “It gives me hope that the pressure for change is now being met by a substantial, determined global response, “But that response, and its practical implementation on the ground, must be expedited as the window of opportunity left to us is rapidly closing. The security and capacity of our planet’s entire life-support systems are banking on it, and if we all work with that primary responsibility to the fore, not only will we benefit nature, we will benefit people and the planet too.”
The Prime Minister of Iceland, Katrín Jakobsdóttir called on political leaders to be brave and politically focused on eliminating harmful practices and at the same time advance along what has been proven to be positive, human and nature-friendly, transforming the same courage to the value systems and our food systems.
The United States in partnership with the United Arab Emirates and with the support of Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Israel, Singapore, the UK and Uruguay, has already set out its Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) initiative, to increase and accelerate global research and development on agriculture and food systems in support of climate action.
Japan on the other hand outlined its alignment with the European Union on the importance of innovation to transforming food systems, along with a balanced diet, while emphasising the need for solutions adapted to regional contexts.
Meanwhile, African countries mobilised around a common position outlined earlier at the Pre-Summit by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, while Modibo Keita, Minister for Regional Development in Mali, highlighted the importance of irrigation, biofertilizers and reducing post-harvest losses to improve national food systems.
