July 26, 2023 | FAO | Source
The UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment concluded after three days of high-level events, meetings, and dialogues with over 2,000 participants from 180 countries, including more than 20 Heads of State and Government and 125 Ministers. The event aimed to explore challenges and opportunities for transforming agrifood systems.
FAO Director-General QU Dongyu highlighted the importance of recognizing the complexity of food insecurity and malnutrition, driven by climate change, economic shocks, and conflicts. He emphasized the need for a high-level, long-term political commitment and the acceleration of efforts to address these challenges.
The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, presented a Call-to-Action on behalf of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, advocating for urgent action to close the implementation gap. She stressed the linkages between food systems, financing for development, debt relief, inclusion, engagement with non-state actors, and access to science, technology, and innovation.
The event highlighted the significance of various factors, including investment in infrastructure, circular economy and bio-economy, understanding the true cost of food, legal infrastructure, value chains, trade, and putting people at the center, especially youth and women.
Key messages included the importance of science, technology, and innovation for better production, efficient use of natural resources, aquatic foods to combat hunger and malnutrition, data and geospatial data, international cooperation, enabling policies and governance structures, digitalization, and the role of farmers in driving innovation and technology adoption.
The UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment reviewed progress on commitments and identified priorities, building on the momentum of the 2021 Food Systems Summit. The next meeting, the UN Food Systems Summit +4, is scheduled for 2025.