UNIDO Reaffirms Commitment to Sustainable Food Systems Transformation

Strategic Insights -

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing sustainable food systems transformation at the second UN Food Systems Summit Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+4) held in Addis Ababa. UNIDO emphasized the importance of industrial innovation, value addition, and post-harvest loss reduction in strengthening food security and nutrition, mobilizing blended finance, and driving inclusive economic growth and climate resilience. Gunther Beger, Managing Director of UNIDO's SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation Directorate, highlighted the need for deliberate and practical solutions to transform food systems, citing the role of industrial innovation in reducing food loss and waste, bridging investment gaps for smallholders and SMEs, and promoting local value addition. The event saw the official launch of the UNIDO Food Loss and Waste Action Plan, which takes a system-wide approach to addressing one of the most persistent barriers to food security and nutrition.

Key Takeaways:

  • UNIDO reaffirmed its commitment to advancing sustainable food systems transformation at the second UN Food Systems Summit Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+4).
  • The organization emphasized the importance of industrial innovation, value addition, and post-harvest loss reduction in strengthening food security and nutrition, mobilizing blended finance, and driving inclusive economic growth and climate resilience.
  • Gunther Beger, Managing Director of UNIDO's SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation Directorate, highlighted the need for deliberate and practical solutions to transform food systems.
  • The UNIDO Food Loss and Waste Action Plan was launched, which takes a system-wide approach to addressing one of the most persistent barriers to food security and nutrition.
  • Each year, millions of tons of food are lost due to preventable gaps in infrastructure, investment, and innovation.
  • The Action Plan supports the 2024 Addis Ababa Call to Action adopted during the World Without Hunger Conference and reinforces UNIDO's role as a key driver of food systems transformation through technical expertise, catalytic finance, and public-private partnerships.
  • UNIDO presented its Advancing Climate-resilience and Transformation in African Coffee Programme (ACT Coffee Programme), funded by the Government of Italy.
  • The ACT Coffee Programme offers integrated solutions to boost productivity, enable value addition, and unlock private sector finance within the African coffee sector.
  • The Mattei Plan for Africa aims to transform the African coffee sector through sustainable production practices and value chain development.
  • Over 3,500 participants attended the UNFSS+4, including 145 national delegations and more than 700 non-state actors.

Statistics:

  • Over 3,500 participants attended the UNFSS+4.
  • 145 national delegations and more than 700 non-state actors participated in the event.
  • Millions of tons of food are lost each year due to preventable gaps in infrastructure, investment, and innovation.
  • The UNIDO Food Loss and Waste Action Plan aims to reduce food loss and waste in the food supply chain.

Sources:

  • United Nations Industrial Development Organization press release (no date).
  • Gunther Beger, Managing Director of UNIDO's SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation Directorate (no date).
  • Addis Ababa Call to Action adopted during the World Without Hunger Conference (2024).
  • Mattei Plan for Africa (no date).
  • Government of Italy (no date).
  • International Coffee Organization (ICO) (no date).
  • Inter-African Coffee Organization (IACO) (no date).