Addis Ababa, July 30, 2025 (FMC) — United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed has urged countries to take bold, coordinated action to accelerate the transformation of global food systems, warning that time is running out to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Speaking at the closing session of the UN Food Systems Summit +4 Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa, co-hosted by Ethiopia and Italy, Mohammed emphasized that food systems, too often seen as part of the problem, must be recognized as a vital solution to today’s global challenges.
“Too often food systems are seen as part of the problem, when in fact, they are one of the greatest solutions to deliver for people, planet, peace, and prosperity,” she said. “But with just five years left to 2030, hunger and malnutrition persist. Climate shocks, conflict, debt, and inequality are widening the cracks in our systems.”
The three-day summit convened more than 3,000 participants from governments, civil society, Indigenous Peoples, youth, and the private sector to review progress made since the first Food Systems Summit in 2021 and renew global commitments. Over 130 countries have now developed National Pathways for food systems transformation, supported by UN agencies and international partners.
Mohammed welcomed the momentum behind this transformation and highlighted areas of concrete progress. Food and agriculture are now included in the climate plans of 168 countries, and over 170 countries have expanded school meal programmes, which she described as “vital investments in children, farmers, and future resilience.”
She called for greater inclusion of youth, women, Indigenous Peoples, and marginalized groups in national strategies, and urged donors and development banks to align their financial support with these nationally defined pathways.
“As we conclude this stocktake, we must acknowledge that we met in the face of challenges that test our moral values and threaten the sustainability of our planet,” she said. “This underscores the urgency of our shared work.”
The summit also saw the launch of the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025 (SOFI) report, jointly produced by FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO. While the report showed a modest global decline in hunger, it also revealed worsening food insecurity in Africa and Western Asia. It warned that rising food prices are limiting access to nutritious diets for low-income communities, particularly affecting women, children, and rural populations.
The report recommends coordinated fiscal and monetary policies to stabilize food markets, enhance resilient trade systems, expand targeted social protection, and increase investment in climate-resilient agrifood systems.
At a key side event, Mohammed addressed the growing crisis of acute malnutrition, noting that more than 37 million children under five are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition this year — nearly 10 million of whom are affected by severe wasting, the deadliest form of undernutrition.
“Communities are trapped in relentless cycles of hardship,” she said. “But courage is on display at all moments.”
She urged governments and international partners to go beyond short-term relief and commit to long-term, locally led solutions. Commending countries that are embedding resilience into national food strategies, she emphasized the importance of integrating traditional knowledge with modern science to rebuild food systems that work for all.
In her concluding appeal, Mohammed called for stronger multilateralism and inclusive cooperation.
“Our movement has shown what is possible when we work together across sectors, stakeholders, and countries with a shared purpose,” she said. “Let us continue to lead the way — together — for peace and to realize the vision of the 2030 Agenda.”