Pre-summit on food systems establishes food as powerful tool for SDGs

ROME: A three-day event, a pre-summit, was organised to provide direction for a global summit on food systems scheduled in September 2021. The multi-stakeholder event emphasized on the potential of food system to drive progress on all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event was hosted by the Government of Italy in a hybrid format of both virtual and in-person events in Rome.

In preparation of the Summit, the organisers had arranged a series of national dialogues through online meetings, public forums, and surveys. These events tried to seek a broad range of ideas to develop food systems that will cater to all and simultaneously leverage the power of food systems to consign progress on all categories of SDGs. The pre-summit held from July 26 to July 28 provided a forum to assess the results of that consultative process.

Anotnio Guterres, Secretary General, United Nations started off the online event with a message that the current food system is part of a “war on nature” for it generates up to one-third of all the greenhouse gas emissions, and is also responsible for up to 80 per cent of biodiversity loss worldwide. Mario Draghi, Prime Minister of Italy, called on fellow leaders of nations to put effort in transforming their countries’ food systems. In addition, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development announced a Business Declaration on Food System Transformation to work towards equitable, net-zero, and nature-positive food systems. The heads of WHO and UN Children’s Fund issued a joint statement emphasizing on the importance of keeping children and young people at the heart of the food system transformation.