Ahead of UN Food Systems Summit, FAO’s participation at HLPF builds momentum to transform agri-food systems

FAO actively contributed to High-level Political Forum (HLPF) discussions earlier this month, with calls for collaborative and science-based actions that stand to catalyze an agri-food systems transformation, leading to better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all, leaving no one behind.

As the core UN platform for monitoring and discussing the progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the 2021 HLPF, which took place 6–15 July, helped chart progress, identify challenges, and map pathways to achieve SDG2 (Zero Hunger) and move towards more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems.

To this end, FAO actively engaged on multiple fronts during virtually all days of the forum. FAO Director‑General QU Dongyu participated in the ECOSOC Integration Segment before the HLPF, in the HLPF Special Event on the launch of The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021 (SOFI) flagship report, and in the side event on youth and agri-food systems transformation, organized by the World Food Forum. Additionally, Chief Economist Máximo Torero and Chief Scientist Ismahane Elouafi, respectively, were speakers in the HLPF sessions on SDGs 1, 2, 8 and 17 and on mobilizing science, technology and innovation (STI) to strengthen the science-policy-society interface. 

FAO technical divisions also organized or engaged in side events on topics as diverse as the priority areas of work of the 2030 Agenda. These discussions included FAO’s vision and approach to forest management and forest-dependent livelihoods; territorial approaches to rural development; One Health for planetary health and pollution prevention; mountain peoples’ food systems; youth engagement for agri-food systems transformation; and STI as a driver of inclusive and innovative policies for sustainable development.

Worth highlighting is the FAO-led side event on youth and agri-food systems transformation, where the FAO Director-General participated, which shone the spotlight on initiatives promoted and led by youth to deliver the needed transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind. The side-event was part of the road to the World Food Forum, led by the Youth Committee engaging many partners, and to the UN Food Systems Summit.

An HLPF preparatory process with innovative solutions for Zero Hunger at the top of the agenda

FAO actively engaged in the HLPF preparatory process during the first half of 2021, including as part of the ECOSOC Integration Segment, where FAO was the lead entity in the Integration Dialogue on “Human wellbeing and capabilities: Building back more resilient, healthy, equitable and sustainable societies”. In this capacity, FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol moderated the preparatory dialogue on the theme and, at the Integration Segment itself, the FAO Director-General underscored that building back more resilient, healthy, equitable and sustainable societies was “one of the most critical issues currently facing humanity”.

Qu also touched on the Organization’s new Strategic Framework and on the importance it allocates to STI to strengthen governance, institutions and human capacity for sustainable development. Anchored in the Four Betters, the Strategic Framework seeks to galvanize innovative solutions, catalyze new partnerships, and foster a collaborative and mutually reinforcing environment to help achieve the SDGs, especially those related to poverty reduction, zero hunger and reduced inequalities. 

FAO also supported the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) in the organization of the Expert Group Meeting on the SDGs under review at the HLPF, with the FAO Chief Economist presenting on progress and challenges in achieving Zero Hunger and on trade-offs and synergies between SDGs. Eight FAO technical committees and governing bodies also provided intergovernmental inputs to the HLPF, in addition to the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), responding to the call made by the President of ECOSOC.  

SOFI 2021: fallout in Zero Hunger efforts and key policy, investment, and behavioral pathways ahead

For the third year, The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) flagship report was launched by FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO at an HLPF special event. If the world was already off track to reach SDG2, the SOFI report revealed a dramatic worsening of world hunger in 2020, much of it likely related to the fallout of COVID‑19. It is estimated that around one-tenth of the global population – up to 811 million people – was undernourished last year. The number suggests it will take a tremendous effort for the world to honour its pledge to end hunger by 2030.  

“Six years ago, we were optimistic that past progress would keep us on track to achieve this goal, but trends have shown we are not going in the right direction. The pandemic made the pathway towards our goal even steeper. But it has also widely exposed the fragilities of our agri-food systems, giving us a unique opportunity to build forward better. We have less than a decade to do so, and prove that our commitment and actions were bold enough,” said the FAO Director-General at the launch event. 

The stark numbers and conclusive calls to action were echoed by the FAO and WFP Chief Economists, at a special press briefing on SOFI 2021 hosted from New York by the Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General.

“We have no choice but to transform the agri-food systems to address the major drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition,” Qu added. He stressed that the UN Food Systems Summit 2021 is an opportunity to bring forward a series of concrete solutions and actions to reach the goal of Zero Hunger and advance towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda as a whole, a sentiment shared by the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres.

Against this telling backdrop of global food security and nutrition, the report identified six key pathways, as the world prepares to join efforts and pool resources and expertise to transform the world’s agri-food systems.

• Integrating humanitarian, development and peacebuilding policies in conflict-affected areas;
• Scaling up climate resilience across food systems; 
• Strengthening resilience of the most vulnerable to economic adversity; 
• Intervening along the food supply chains to lower the cost of nutritious foods; 
• Tackling poverty and structural inequalities, ensuring interventions are pro-poor and inclusive; and; 
• Strengthening food environments and changing consumer behaviour to promote dietary patterns with positive impacts on human health and the environment.

HLPF Ministerial Declaration calls for enhanced efforts to reach SDG2 and transform food systems

A successful HLPF concluded with the adoption by consensus of the Ministerial Declaration of the high‑level segment of the 2021 ECOSOC and the HLFP. The Declaration features strong, actionable language on food security and nutrition and food systems. FAO proactively contributed to the inclusion of this language and offered a set of key messages for the HLPF. 

From the G20 Matera Declaration on food security, nutrition and food systems, to the FAO Director-General's call on G20 countries to invest in rural areas and prevent biodiversity loss and land degradation to reduce poverty, pursue Zero Hunger, and ensure the health of our planet, this year’s HLPF and its respective Ministerial Declaration represents a concerted message and call to facilitate frameworks for global action, galvanize support for science-led coalitions, and broker partnerships and investments ahead of the UN Food Systems Summit in September. 

Agri-food systems transformation: a global policy drumbeat for the Decade of Action

The UN Food Systems Pre-Summit, which took place on 26–28 July from Rome, was an auspicious platform to solidify the commitments and calls to action expressed during the HLPF. It also added momentum ahead of the Food Systems Summit in September and throughout the Decade of Action on the road to 2030.

The Pre-Summit has set the stage for the culminating global event in September, by bringing together diverse actors from around the world to leverage the power of agri-food systems to deliver progress on all of the SDGs. 

At this "critical moment in time," Qu said, the world faces "the historic task" to transform the agri-food systems and put back on track the achievement of the SDGs. "To achieve this ambitious transformation, we need to change policies, mind-sets, and business models," he told participants at the Pre-Summit opening ceremony that saw the participation of dozens of heads of state and government, ministers and other high-level representatives. The opening ceremony and other sessions were transmitted live by Italy’s national television broadcasting station – RAI, with robust media coverage following the discussions from all corners of the world.

Under the leadership of the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the Pre-Summit aimed at being a "People's Summit" that brings together youth, farmers, indigenous peoples, civil society, researchers, private sector, policy leaders, and ministers of agriculture, environment, health, nutrition, and finance, among other participants. Also in attendance at this landmark gathering were Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, and Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the 2021 Food Systems Summit, Agnes Kalibata.

Related links

• Revisit FAO’s participation at the HLPF here or review the daily updates on key engagements here.
• Find the FAO 2021 HLPF key messages here.
• Access all resources on SOFI 2021 here.
• Find out more about FAO and the SDGs.