Never before has the world produced more food—yet our food systems are failing both people and the planet.
Transforming Food Systems Together: Key Takeaways from the UN Food Systems Summit+4
At the United Nations Food Systems Summit+4 (UNFSS+4) Stocktake, around 3,000 delegates from across the globe gathered to accelerate the transformation of our food systems – aiming to ensure that everyone has access to nutritious, affordable food while safeguarding the planet’s natural resources. The vision is clear, but the path forward is still being shaped.
Held in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, from July 27-29, the UNFSS+4 Stocktake brought together government representatives, civil society, Indigenous communities, farmers, youth, researchers, and the private sector to share progress, identify gaps, and push for action.
The UNFSS process was created in 2021 to end hunger and make food systems fairer, more sustainable, and more resilient. This is urgent: 673 million people are still going hungry – despite there being enough food, knowledge, and resources for all. An additional 2.6 billion cannot afford a healthy diet, and the climate crisis, changing ecosystems, and biodiversity loss are taking a heavy toll globally, especially on food security. The UNFSS process seeks to address these challenges by inviting countries to develop “national pathways” – overhauling policies, regulations, and funding programs tailored to each country’s specific conditions and needs.
It is a vast task, and progress is slow, as the UNFSS+4 showed. Yet one notable change is that the term “food systems” is now widely understood – a contrast to 2021, when it was unfamiliar to many. The Right to Food as a basic human right was also frequently mentioned by heads of states, although implementation remains lacking.
Multi Actor Platforms driving change
Welthungerhilfe (WHH) co-hosted a successful side event with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMLEH) on how Multi Actor Platforms (MAPs) can accelerate progress on the three Rio Conventions on climate, biodiversity, and desertification.
Josephine Thome, Head of Programs for WHH Kenya, shared insights from a decade-long land restoration program in western Kenya. The initiative has reached more than 180,000 farmers with agricultural advice, promoted evidence-based practices based on soil testing, and shown how healthy soils contribute to zero hunger, climate adaptation, and carbon sequestration.
Her message was clear: “Transforming food systems is not a solo effort. Building trust takes time. You have to show up, listen, be transparent – and stay the course.”
Active coalitions and persistent gaps
Coalitions such as the Indigenous Peoples Food Systems Coalition and the Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health played a strong role in promoting inclusive, just, and biodiversity-friendly transformations. However, civil society participation remained limited — a gap that must be addressed.
WHH remains committed to ensuring that marginalized groups have a voice in this process. Traditional knowledge must be given a stronger voice in political debates, as bringing together traditional knowledge and scientific insights creates synergies that offer particularly effective solutions.
Looking ahead
Accountability was barely addressed, leaving it unclear what future summits will measure against. For the next Stocktake, WHH calls for more dialogue over monologue and for civil society engagement that moves beyond symbolism.
With heads of states being present from Italy, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, and vice presidents from Uganda, Liberia and Nigeria, the UNFSS+4 demonstrated strong political will to transform food systems, especially in the Global South. Now, it is crucial to maintain this momentum, establish accountability mechanisms, and push for truly inclusive food systems.
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