The UN Food Systems Summit+2 Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+2) reviewed progress in implementing the outcomes of the 2021 Food Systems Summit to support global action towards zero hunger, food security, and nutrition (SDG 2) as drivers to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. UNFSS+2 also launched the UN Secretary-General’s call for accelerated food systems transformation that will inform the SDG Summit, UNFCCC COP 28, and the 2024 Summit of the Future.
Addressing participants, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that “global food systems are broken and billions of people are paying the price.” While almost one-third of all food produced is lost or wasted, more than 780 million people experience hunger, over 3 billion cannot afford healthy diets, 462 million are underweight, and 2 billion are overweight or obese.
At the same time, he noted, unsustainable food production, packaging, and consumption generate one-third of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, contributing to the climate crisis, use 70% of the world’s freshwater, and drive biodiversity loss.
In his Call to Action, the Secretary-General highlights progress countries have made since 2021 in addressing the broken food systems, including by supporting more than 155 National Food Systems Convenors, adopting 126 national pathways for food systems transformation, and submitting 107 voluntary reports that provide “a vivid account of their food systems journey.”
Despite countries’ “leadership and ownership for progress,” projections show that by 2030, some 600 million people, or 7% of the world’s population, will suffer hunger. This, the Secretary-General notes, is the same proportion as in 2015, meaning “there will be no progress on SDG 2.”