The UN Food Systems Summit held in September 2021 was first of its kind in several respects: it was the first UN summit to focus on food systems, the first food-related summit involving heads of state in the UN General Assembly, and the first such summit that was informed by an independent Scientific Group.  Food systems require ongoing attention, as evidenced by the widespread repercussions of the Ukraine crisis and the focus on food systems at COP27. A UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, established in early 2022, coordinates follow-up to the summit, including facilitation of food systems transformation pathways at the country level, and will organize the first biannual stocktaking of the summit outcomes and follow-up actions in 2023.  

Please join us as we bring together members of the UNFSS Scientific Group, the Director of the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, and the Managing Director of the CGIAR Science Group on Systems Transformation to explore scientific findings that inform food systems transformation and point to research gaps, and examine food systems governance and the role of global institutions in shepherding food systems transformation.

Welcoming Remarks

• Johan Swinnen, Managing Director, Systems Transformation, CGIAR and Director General, IFPRI

Setting the Context / What Is at Stake

• Joachim von Braun, Chair of the UNFSS Scientific Group 2021; Professor, Economic and Technological Change at Center for Development Research (ZEF)

Reflections from the 2021 UNFSS Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the 2021 Food Systems Summit

• Agnes Kalibata, President, AGRA

A Preview of the 2023 UNFSS Stocktaking

• Stefanos Fotiou, Director of the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub; Director, Office of Sustainable Development Goals, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (video recording)

Bringing together scientific expertise to advance food systems transformation

• Mohamed Hag Ali Hassan, Vice Chair of the UNFSS Scientific Group; World Academy of Sciences (Presentation)

Food systems transformation for advancing nutrition and health

• Kaosar Afsana, Vice Chair of the UNFSS Scientific Group; James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University

Prioritizing scientific evidence to inform food systems transformation

• Ismahane Elouafi, member of the UNFSS Scientific Group; Chief Scientist, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

The role of the CGIAR in advancing food systems transformation / How to advance on food systems transformation in fragile settings/amid crises?

• Johan Swinnen, Managing Director, Systems Transformation, CGIAR and Director General, IFPRI

Moderator

• Charlotte Hebebrand, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, IFPRI