The Committee on World Food Security (CFS) and UN Food Systems Coordination Hub jointly organized a hybrid High Level Political Forum (HLPF) side event on July 15 in New York. The event which was co-hosted by the Dominican Republic, Kenya, Nigeria, Portugal, and the Kingdom of Spain aimed at highlighting the role of food system transformation in advancing the 2030 Agenda; Promoting food systems transformation into legal frameworks and political processes (e.g. Rio convention COPs, G-7, G-20 and others); Showcasing Member States’ Pathways and key issues of focus; Understanding Member States’ needs, opportunities and barriers to implementing food systems transformation strategies; Linking national pathways to the ecosystem of support, including from CFS as well as Underlining the critical importance of inclusive governance and accountability at all levels.

The discussion was centered on the global food system which is under unprecedented pressure, with only eight years remaining towards the realization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ambition. Transformation was emphasized as very essential for accelerating progress on all SDGs by lifting people out of poverty, ending hunger and malnutrition, preserving natural resources and ecosystems, and mitigating and adapting to climate change. All stakeholders including private sector and youth were noted to be key to pushing for resilient and sustainable food system transformations to preserve ecosystems and the planet.

The CFS Chairperson, H.E Gabriel Ferrero y de Loma-Osorio closed the event with a message of hope and optimism emphasizing that the surest pathway towards the realization of SDGs was using a multistakeholder approach.