Addis Ababa (TDI): A growing hunger crisis and rising food insecurity were front and center as leaders from across the globe gathered in Addis Ababa for the second United Nations Food Systems Summit.
Held from July 27 to 29, the gathering drew heads of state, senior UN officials, and representatives from civil society and the private sector, all sounding the alarm on what many called an unsustainable and unjust global food structure.
Speaking at the opening session, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chair of the African Union Commission, didn’t mince words. “This is not just about feeding people,” he said. “It’s about survival, dignity, and stability. Reforming food systems is no longer a policy debate, it’s a necessity.”
Youssouf emphasized that African nations were already making strides toward building resilient and inclusive food systems, but said outside support was essential. “Africa isn’t waiting around. But we need partners, real ones, to walk with us.”
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In a recorded address, UN Secretary-General António Guterres offered a grim snapshot saying that hunger is on the rise, food prices are outpacing wages, and the irony is hard to miss, millions go hungry while enormous amounts of food are wasted daily.
“It’s shocking,” Guterres said. “A third of humanity can’t afford a healthy meal, yet we throw away a third of our food. That’s not just inefficient. It’s immoral.”
He blamed a mix of conflict, climate disruption, and market shocks, and called for global food systems that are fair, resilient, and grounded in basic human rights.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, addressing the summit in person, pointed out that even though global food insecurity has dropped over time, the problem remains deeply entrenched — particularly in Africa.
“One in five Africans still faces hunger,” Meloni said. “That’s not a statistic, it’s a crisis. And it’s being made worse by the overlapping challenges the world is dealing with right now.”
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Meloni warned that hunger isn’t just a health or welfare issue, it has political consequences too. “When people go hungry, instability follows. Conflicts erupt. Terrorism takes root. And people are forced to leave their homes,” she said.
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took the opportunity to stress the importance of putting money where the problem is. He said Africa needs better access to financing, modern technology, and fairer trade systems if there’s to be any real transformation.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
