The upcoming United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) is an important moment to garner political and financial attention to address the most pressing issues facing food systems, including food security, diet quality, and environmental sustainability. It also comes at a critical time, amid competing national and global priorities, including massive inequalities, rapid climate change, and the struggle to manage and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had catastrophic impacts, especially in the poorest parts of the world, exacerbating global hunger and malnutrition.
Previous food summits have proven to be pivotal. In 1943, the UN Conference on Food and Agriculture called by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt set the goal of “freedom from want of food, suitable and adequate for the health and strength of all people.” The 1996 World Food Summit, where the definition of food security was formulated, helped establish the framing for the Millennium Development Goals. Read more.
