Insights from the International Science Festival
HLPE-FSN reports
©FAO/HLPE-FSN Silvia Meiattini
At a time when the world faces intensifying climate impacts, deepening inequalities, and mounting pressures on natural resources, the fifth edition of the International Science Festival, organized by the French research institutions CIRAD, INRAE and IRD and the Permanent Representation of France to the United Nations in Rome, offered an essential space for collective reflection on the future of food systems.
Held on 28 November 2025, the event brought together scientists, practitioners, and institutions to examine a central question: how can we nourish a global population of 10 billion by 2050 while respecting the boundaries of our planet?
Structured around three sessions, (i) the state of the world in 2025, (ii) solutions for feeding and preserving, and (iii) the transformation of food systems, the Festival highlighted the urgency of accelerating transitions towards sustainable, inclusive, and resilient models.
Marie-Josèphe Amiot-Carlin, French expert in nutrition, public health, and food systems, contributed to the opening session representing the HLPE-FSN, the United Nations body responsible for assessing science related to food security and nutrition at the global level, as the independent science–policy interface of the Committee on World Food Security ( CFS). She emphasized the value of a multidisciplinary, systemic and globally inclusive scientific process in addressing the complexity of today’s food security and nutrition challenges.
“Independent science gives us the clarity we need to navigate complexity, and the courage to rethink our models so that they remain within planetary limits,” she noted during the dialogue.
MJ Amiot-Carlin outlined how the HLPE-FSN continuously updates conceptual and strategic frameworks on food security and nutrition, producing reports and background notes grounded in high-quality research and enriched by the diversity of experiences represented in its Steering Committee, drafting teams, consultations and the extensive network of experts of the Panel. By integrating different knowledge systems and ensuring internal coherence, the HLPE-FSN provides governments and stakeholders with evidence-based recommendations to guide decisions in a rapidly changing global context.
The discussions of the Festival strongly resonated with the HLPE-FSN’s call for transformative action and the progressive realization of the right to food. Science has shown that the global food system plays a significant role in the transgression of key planetary boundaries – from climate change to biodiversity loss – while also depending on the stability of ecosystems and the services they provide. Participants stressed that achieving food security for present and future generations requires tackling these challenges together, through coherent policies, innovation, and strengthened cooperation.
For policymakers, the messages are clear: transformation is both necessary and possible. Advancing towards resilient food systems will require investments in science and research, support for context-appropriate solutions, and the integration of environmental, social, and nutritional objectives into decision-making. The HLPE-FSN will continue to contribute its independent analysis and recommendations to inform these pathways.
“Science and policy have much to gain from strong cooperation through interfaces such as the HLPE-FSN”, MJ Amiot-Carlin concluded.
Looking ahead, the Festival’s discussions reaffirmed the essential role of science in shaping future-proof food systems and the importance of inclusive platforms - such as the CFS, in bridging knowledge, policy, and action towards a food-secure and sustainable world.
Read related content
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Watch the recordings (26:44)
