Publication
Food Systems Summit
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
UN Secretary-General António Guterres convened a Food Systems Summit this year to raise global awareness and land global commitments and actions that transform food systems to resolve not only hunger, but to reduce diet-related disease and heal the planet.
The Secretary General is calling for collective action of all citizens to radically change the way we produce, process, and consume food.
It is a summit for everyone everywhere - a people’s summit. It is also a solutions summit that will require everyone to take action to transform the world’s food systems.
The Summit process aims to deliver the following outcomes:
The term 'food system' refers to the constellation of activities involved in producing, processing, transporting and consuming food. Food systems touch every aspect of human existence. The health of our food systems profoundly affects the health of our bodies, as well as the health of our environment, our economies and our cultures. When they function well, food systems have the power to bring us together as families, communities and nations.
But too many of the world’s food systems are fragile, unexamined and vulnerable to collapse, as millions of people around the globe have experienced first-hand during the Covid19 pandemic. When our food systems fail, the resulting disorder threatens our education, health and economy, as well as human rights, peace and security. As in so many cases, those who are already poor or marginalised are the most vulnerable.
The good news is that we know what we need to do to get back on track. Scientists agree that transforming our food systems is among the most powerful ways to change course and make progress towards all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Rebuilding the food systems of the world will also enable us to answer the UN Secretary-General’s call to 'build back better' from Covid19. We are all part of the food system, and so we all must come together to bring about the transformation that the world needs.
In keeping with the Summit’s fundamental commitment to inclusivity, the process is free and open to everyone, and everyone is encouraged to contribute - from smallholder farmers and research scientists, to leaders and corporate executives, to youth organisers and environmental activists, to supermarket cashiers and home cooks. Click on the links to register for 21 April, 26 April, 4 May and 17 May.
You can email your questions in advance of the virtual events to dialogues@agriculture.gov.ie