Committee on World Food Security

Under the leadership of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the UN Food Systems Summit took place on Thursday, 23 September 2021, and Friday, 24 September 2021, during the UN General Assembly High-level Week. CFS Chairperson Thanawat Tiensin was invited to speak at the session on "Carrying forward the vision and momentum for 2030". In his statement, the CFS Chair noted that CFS, as reformed in 2009, remains the UN’s unique multi-stakeholder platform for advancing food security and nutrition. He further stated that CFS has strongly supported this Summit which it sees as an opportunity to accelerate action through a broad food systems lens that addresses health, climate, gender and other key areas to achieve food security, nutrition and other SDGs. In conclusion, he expressed his hope that, as part of its many outcomes, the Summit will strengthen food systems governance, including CFS and its HLPE, by enhancing collaboration among governments, private sector, civil society, the UN and others.

The Deputy-Secretay-General Amina J. Mohammed emphasized that "[delivering on the pathways for a transformative food system] will also include collaborating with the CFS HLPE at the global level." She further stressed that "CFS remains an essential platform to bring us together to ensure food security and nutrition. Engagement with the CFS to provide leadership to the follow up will be essential to deliver on its mandate, but also to share the immense knowledge and tools that they have for us."

CFS and its policy products were also referenced in the UN Food Systems Summit compendium.

In the Secretary-General’s Chair Summary and Statement of Action on the UN Food Systems Summit, participants noted that they "were able to benefit from the engagement and products of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) that steers global policy making." In addition, the Statement of Action envisions a coordination hub for the follow-up of the Summit, which among others will collaborate "with the High-level Panel of Experts (HLPE) of the CFS at global level." Furthermore, the Statement of Action states that "[e]ngagement with the CFS to provide leadership to the follow-up to the FSS will be essential to deliver on its mandate.”

CFS and its HLPE and how their work it relates to the Summit and its outcomes was also mentioned in a number of Member State Statements.

You can watch all UN Food Systems Summit sessions here.