The 2nd United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4), held from 27–29 July 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and co-hosted by Ethiopia and Italy, brought together global stakeholders to assess progress since the inaugural 2021 summit in advancing sustainable food systems.
Speaking to VOC News, Dr. Paul Kariuki, Executive Director of the Democracy Development Programme, highlighted the significance of the summit in addressing interconnected global food systems.
“We’re looking at how various food systems around the world are interlinked through the activities, resources, and people involved in producing, processing, distributing, and consuming food. This summit brings together governments, civil society, academia, and farmers to build a food system that ensures sustainable food supply and ultimately ends hunger globally,” he said.
Dr. Kariuki emphasised that food security is one of the most urgent global challenges. “Some may argue that this focus is more important than many other UN priorities. If people are hungry, they can’t contribute meaningfully to society.”
He explained that UNFSS+4 serves as a stocktake, building on insights from the 2021 summit and measuring progress toward achieving Zero Hunger, one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also addressed emerging threats not foreseen four years ago, including the worsening impacts of climate change, rising food insecurity, and geopolitical instability.
“Conflicts such as the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine have worsened hunger. This summit assessed what has changed and identified urgent actions needed to mitigate these new threats,” he concluded.
UNFSS+4 reinforced that global collaboration is essential to transform food systems and tackle the root causes of hunger in today’s rapidly evolving world.
Listen to the full interview below:
VOC News
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