KEYIR NEWS - In a compelling online address to the Second United Nations Food Systems Summit, UN Secretary-General António Guterres underscored the transformative role of food systems in achieving global development objectives, praising Ethiopia’s achievements as a model of effective and climate-smart reform.
Guterres began by acknowledging the pivotal role that national governments now play in aligning food systems with climate strategies, integrating biodiversity frameworks into national budgeting, and promoting inclusive participation—particularly by women and youth.
He noted that Ethiopia’s targeted investments in wheat productivity, alongside its bold climate-resilient food policy reforms, have resulted in the elimination of wheat imports. The approach has simultaneously generated substantial employment opportunities, positioning Ethiopia as a continental role model for food sovereignty and sustainability.
“Governments cannot act alone,” Guterres emphasised. “The private sector must step in with responsible innovation, logistics, financing and investment, all aligned with the public interest.”
Since the inaugural UN Food Systems Summit in 2021, more than 100 countries have begun implementing food system transformation plans that prioritise climate resilience, biodiversity preservation, and food security. These actions are crucial, Guterres stressed, in the face of escalating instability in global trade systems, which threatens the affordability and availability of healthy and safe food.
Guterres advocated for investment in agroecology, balanced school meals, and streamlined value chains through technology and innovation. Such initiatives are not only critical for food productivity, he said, but also essential for addressing youth unemployment, expanding economic opportunity, and ensuring long-term sustainability.
The Secretary-General also stressed the need for systemic change in international finance. “Developing countries require urgent debt relief and access to sustainable financing,” he said. He called for reforms to the global financial architecture to support nations in making transformative food system investments.
He concluded by reiterating that climate-smart, inclusive food policies will be essential in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, urging the global community to work collectively to eliminate food insecurity and environmental degradation.