Background

     In September 2021, the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) has awakened the world to the fact that many of the world’s food systems are fragile and not fulfilling the right to adequate food for all. Hunger is on the rise with almost half of all humanity cannot afford a healthy diet. Drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition, including conflict, climate extremes, and economic volatility, are exacerbated by poverty and high levels of inequality. The incidence of COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated an unfolding of such planetary crisis, threatening our climate and life as we know it. The essential solution for food security is a sustainable food system that the economic, social, cultural, and environmental bases to generate adequate nutritious foods for future generations are safeguarded.

  Call for actions, the UNFSS has resulted in approximately 300 commitments aimed to transform food systems to be robust and reliable for many facets of developing foods to the rapid growing world’s population. Key concerns such as enhancing resilience, managing food loss and waste, balancing agriculture and food supply chain ecosystems, and fostering innovative food systems are also emphasized.

     International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) recognizes the pivotal roles of agriculture, food science and technology and nutrition in delivering food system transformation. Integrated technology and innovation could provide solution to unpredictable challenges posed by vulnerable natural resources, climate change, and conflicts.

   The knowledge shared in this summit will contribute significantly to understanding, building and enhancing capacity for sustainable food system management in all regions in the world. It will guide global food policies on development towards sustainability and resilience of food systems. This can be implemented by developing new food sources and innovative food production systems, for example. This event holds great importance for the advancement of food and agriculture globally. IUFoST and UNIDO will gather this meeting outcome to develop policy and action plan thereafter.