Addis Ababa, July 23, 2025 (FMC) – As the world prepares for the upcoming United Nations Food Systems Summit stocktaking meeting in Addis Ababa next week, smallholder farmers worldwide are demanding stronger representation within national food system strategies.
The meeting, convened four years after the inaugural UN Food Systems Summit, will bring together UN member state representatives to assess progress toward building more sustainable, equitable, and resilient food systems. Ethiopia, as host country, plays a key role in spotlighting these global challenges.
Despite their critical role, smallholder farmers — those managing two hectares or less — say they need backings from stakeholders. These farmers produce about a third of the world’s food, reaching up to 80 percent in some nations, yet they face challenges including rising input costs and climate change impacts.
Shewaye Fentae, a smallholder poultry farmer from Weyetu village in Sidama region’s Borcha woreda, highlighted the increasing price of poultry feed, which has risen to over 6,000 Ethiopian birr (approximately $44) per 100 kilograms. “Without affordable feed and better market access for our eggs, the progress we’ve made is at risk,” Shewaye said. She emphasized the need for reliable inputs and fair markets to sustain livelihoods.
Globally, food systems still struggle to feed a growing population sustainably. In 2023, over 700 million people faced hunger, while food production remains a significant contributor to environmental degradation — accounting for about one-third of global emissions and 80 percent of deforestation.
The stocktaking meeting will include ministerial roundtables and high-level panels reviewing national commitments. Farmers and advocacy groups urge governments to recognize their frontline role in transforming food systems through agroecology and regenerative practices.
International voices reinforce this call. At a recent Global Food Systems Summit in Honduras, farmers from Latin America and the United States shared experiences of coping with climate challenges, such as droughts, floods, and hurricanes. Iris Núñez, a dairy producer from Honduras, called for increased state support to improve infrastructure, market access, and education for future generations in agriculture.
In Nepal, Tulsi Thapa, president of the Bihani Social Entrepreneurs Women’s Cooperative, stressed the importance of empowering women farmers through access to resources and decision-making power to drive agricultural progress and community transformation.
These perspectives align with the “In Farmers Hands” campaign launched by Heifer International, aiming to strengthen farmers’ roles as leaders and innovators in sustainable food systems. Surita Sandosham, Heifer International’s CEO, underscored the importance of respecting ancestral knowledge and providing training to enable farmers to effectively contribute to global food security.
Ethiopia’s hosting of the UN Food Systems Summit stocktaking meeting places it at the center of this global dialogue, reinforcing the country’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and inclusive food policies that support smallholder farmers—the backbone of national and regional food security.