Independently-organized side events will serve a key complementary role to the UN Food Systems Summit and provide a great opportunity for Member States and other actors who have engaged deeply in the Summit process to share additional ideas and accelerate commitments to action.
Please note: The below list of side events are not part of the formal Summit programme nor hosted or organized by the Summit’s Secretariat. Please contact the event organizer or use the ‘participate’ link for more information.
Invitation Only
The Honor the Harvest Forum is happening at a critical inflection point as we prepare to bring U.S. agriculture to the global stage at the UN Food Systems Summit and COP 26. It’s time to roll up our sleeves and accelerate collaboration for the food and ag sector to strategically co-create the next decade together.
Organizer: U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action (USFRA)
Language: English
Join the Blue Food Assessment co-chairs and thought leaders from the food systems transformation community as they premiere the findings of the Blue Food Assessment to a global audience. Throughout this digital broadcast, we’ll hear from leading scientists, inspirational advocates, and changemakers about the enormous potential and inherent challenges of blue food and how thoughtful policies and practices can drive positive change across the sector.Blue food can be a powerful tool for public health, advance equitable livelihoods, and boost sustainable food production. Despite these many benefits, they are often overlooked in global food system discussions, which tend to focus on terrestrial crops and livestock. The launch event will highlight the interconnection of aquatic and terrestrial food systems, present the latest science on how blue food can support a shift towards a healthier and more sustainable future, and spark policy discussions about how to set that shift in motion.
Organizer: This event is organized by the Blue Food Assessment, a joint international initiative of the Stockholm Resilience Centre, the Center for Ocean Solutions and the Center on Food Security and the Environment at Stanford University and EAT.
Language: English
Agroecological, regenerative, Indigenous, and similar nature-based systems substantially contribute to transforming agriculture and food systems to deliver positive outcomes for people and the planet. Entrepreneurial farmers, cooperatives, food processing groups, companies and marketing initiatives at various levels are working alongside governments and civil society organizations to promote the widespread creation of agroecological systems. Agroecological enterprises need investments and a supportive business and policy environment to thrive. Much collaborative work is needed to improve access to knowledge and finance for inspiring and promising enterprises and to create innovative funding models to better serve this growing and dynamic sector. This event contributes to ongoing learning exchanges among entrepreneurs, policy makers, funders, investors and civil society organisations on increasing investments in agroecological, regenerative and Indigenous enterprises.
Organizer: Biovision Foundation - www.biovision.ch
Transformational Investing in Food Systems initiative - www.tifsinitiative.org
Language: English, Spanish, French
Soil health is recognized as a critical enabler of food system transformation and the UN SustainableDevelopment Goals, supporting climate adaptation and mitigation, soil productivity, food security,producer resilience, and biodiversity.There is growing momentum from multiple stakeholders of the need for farmer capacity building,knowledge and technology transfer, critical investments and payment for eco-system services to supportimproving soil health. This momentum needs to be aligned with stronger science and standards, as well asgovernment policies and farming practices to ensure scale and effectiveness. The UN Food Systems Summitprovides a unique opportunity to bring all stakeholders together to agree on a common way forward.
Organizer: Rabobank, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, FMO: Entrepreneurial Development Bank
Language: English
To contribute to the UN Food Systems Summit, the Faith + Food Coalition hosted five separate interfaith, multi-stakeholder dialogues corresponding to each of the five Action Tracks. The objective of the dialogues was to explore how faith communities - including Indigenous communities - can support the transformation of global food systems to being sustainable, accessible, equitable, and regenerative. From those dialogues, FFC created an Interfaith Statement to reflect the principles and Calls to Action laid out by our speakers. Join us as we announce the statement, and hear feedback and reflections from dialogue speakers and FFC members
Organizer: Center for Earth EthicsBuddhist Tzu Chi AllianceBhumi Global'World Evangelical AllianceInterfaith Public Health NetworkIslamic Medical Association of North AmericaParliament of the World's Religions
Language: English
Radio can reach the most remote, rural, and vulnerable communities in sub-Saharan Africa. By using the combined power of radio and mobile phones, the voices of small-scale farmers and rural people can make critical contributions to discussions about food systems. Throughout June 2021, Farm Radio International and partners used radio to collect the perspectives of thousands of small-scale farmers in four countries in Africa through UNFSS Independent “on air” Dialogues. Nearly 3,500 rural people responded to the call, sharing their perspectives, concerns, and solutions to develop a healthier, more sustainable, and equitable future for food systems — all on analog. This event aims to bring small-scale farmers’ voices to the forefront, present the final report of data, and encourage the world to listen to, respect, and act on farmers’ opinions and concerns to transform global food systems.
Organizer: Farm Radio International, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), World Vision Canada, and the Canadian Food Security Policy Group
Language: English and French
This is a make-or-break year to secure meaningful commitments in addressing the climate crisis and putting our food systems on a sustainable path before it's too late. A key part of such a transformation will need a step change in agricultural innovation to support ambitious action. But how can stakeholders across the food system join forces to ensure agricultural innovation contributes to climate mitigation and adaptation and support more resilient communities?This UN Food Systems Summit side-event as part of the official program of Climate Week NYC will debate an emerging ‘Action Agenda for Innovation in Agriculture’ (aka the #ClimateShot) that will be launched at COP26. The event is hosted by CCAFS, the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and Columbia Climate School.
Organizer: CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Columbia Climate School
Language: English
Where do the most influential global food and agriculture companies stand in transforming the food system for a sustainable future? Find out at the launch of WBA’s Food and Agriculture Benchmark, which has assessed 350 companies from across the value chain on their environmental, nutritional and social impact.Launching alongside the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS), it is a critical moment in addressing the interconnectedness of food systems to global challenges such as hunger, climate change, poverty and inequality. This event will feature a presentation of the benchmark results, a pre-recorded interview with Dr. Agnes Кalibata with speakers from the private sector (Unilver, OCP), GAIN, WBCSD, a Rome-based agency, a coffee farmer, youth climate activist and more. We aim to shine a light on the opportunities and challenges of private sector performance and identify ways for stakeholders to motivate and accelerate private sector impact, in relation to the actions of the UNFSS.
Organizer: World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA)Swiss Government
Language: English
Gender equality and women’s empowerment are key contributors to sustainable food systems, food security and nutrition for people, helping to ensure they are more resilient, empowered and better able to meet their essential needs. The goal of the Gender Lever has been to ensure that women and men, boys and girls, and other groups have equitable roles, responsibilities, opportunities, and choices, and that countries, communities and households, individuals are equipped to participate in local, global, and regional food systems activities in a meaningful, dignified, and equitable way. The Gender Lever team will bring together Women, Member States, Private Sector, Civil Society Organizations, Women’s Organizations etc to discuss solutions developed in the lead up to the Summit and how to take them forward post summit
Organizer: IFPRI, SEWA, CARE, FAO, WFP, IFAD, Govt of Canada
Language: English
During this side event, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Venture 37 will highlight the importance and opportunity of focusing on the livestock production system at the intersection of humans, animals and environments, and how diverse stakeholders – from governments to private sector, to researchers and INGOs – can help take important One Health considerations to scale. Through expert lightning talk presentations and a “Hard Talk” Q&A session, this webinar will explore the challenges and opportunities of scaling One Health in the livestock sector around the world.
Organizer: International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
Venture 37
Language: English
COVID-19 wiped out 15 years of progress in reducing hunger globally. Investing $33bn MORE per year can reverse this trend and end hunger for good. The ground-breaking Ceres2030 report - reinforced by the PARI and SOFI reports - draws a ten-year roadmap to reverse the downward hunger spiral and has emerged from the UN Food Systems Summit’s Coalition of Action for Zero Hunger. A world without hunger is possible and governments cannot do it alone. More private sector investment is needed, so we’re looking to the private sector to do their part and also inspire other players to act.The Launch of Zero Hunger, Private Sector Pledge will welcome the first champions of the pledge. We will hear how they are partnering with governments, donors, global and local institutions to drive more effective private investments and how their pledges will contribute to national food systems pathways.The pledge is being supported by a network of partners including the Global Alliance for Improved Nutriti
Organizer: FAO, WFP, Grow Africa, Grow Asia, WBA, GAIN, WBCSD and IISD
Language: Main: English
Interpreted to: French and Spanish
Livestock production contributes at least 14.5% of all greenhouse gas emissions. If current levels are maintained, it is estimated that livestock production will account for roughly 81% of the 1.5°C emissions budget by 2050 and render the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) unachievable.
Ahead of the UN Food Systems Summit, it is essential to look into the framework of Just Transition and its application to industrialised livestock production.
The event will bring together speakers across different sectors, including investors, farmers, finance, academia, civil society and youth. We will examine the importance of a Just Transition in animal agriculture and the manner in which a Just Transition can transform food systems.
The discussion will be moderated by Lasse Bruun, CEO of 50by40 and Civil Society Lead for Action Track 2 of the UNFSS.
Organizer: 50by40
Language: English
During the 2021 AGRF Summit 6-10 September, six African presidents joined by 8,000 delegates aligned with the African common position on building resilient food systems. Their shared vision will help achieve a transformation to improve livelihoods, defeat hunger and tackle malnutrition.
To highlight the national pathways and partner actions, on September 21 from 6–7:30 PM (EAT) AGRA and the AGRF will host “Delivering on the African Agenda in Building Resilient Food Systems” a side event ahead of the UN Food Systems Summit. It will address African challenges and solutions in the transition to resilient food systems. Following the declaration of the AGRF, it will consider what must be done to turn political ambition into reality.
Organizer: AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa) and AGRF Summit
Language: English
La perspectiva del género es importante en el diseño de las Políticas Publicas pues con base en el 'deber ser' se han institucionalizado brechas de desigualdad que han vulnerado los derechos humanos de las personas que no cumplen con las normas del género.Sondear los conocimientos disponibles entre estudiantes de la carrera de Agricultura Sustentable y Protegida de la Universidad Tecnológica de San Miguel de Allende en temas de Género, Desarrollo Sostenible y Políticas Agroalimentarias; y sobre ¿qué sabemos de ésta relación?Demostrar la relación e intersección de las temáticas expuestas y el cumplimiento de indicadores propuestos en la Agenda2030, con especial énfasis en el ODS #2, Hambre Cero y los Sistemas de Producción Alimentarios.
Organizer: COMETA (Comercializadora Mexicana de Estudiantes y Técnicos Agrícolas) Sociedad Civil
Language: Español
Against the backdrop of the UN Food Systems Summit the World Health Organization aims to hold a multi constituency virtual event to launch its six policy briefs on actions in the food system to deliver better health and nutrition for all:Public Food ProcurementFiscal PoliciesRegulating of Marketing to ChildrenFront of Package Nutrition LabellingFood FortificationFood Product Reformulation
Organizer: World Health Organization
Language: English
Motivating people to learn new skills remains a challenge in the agri-business sector. For many developing countries, quality education and training is not adequate to meet new demands and address technological, social and environmental challenges, especially in the food systems. This workshop, as part of the LKDF's flagship event - LKDF Forum, will focus on the priorities for setting strategies to stimulate employees to skill, up-skill or re-skill according to societal, greening or technological changes. It will reflect the different solutions around the following topics:
1.Levers to motivate employees to skill, up-skill or re-skill and their effectiveness;
2.Potential changes to improve the current approach(es) ;
3.Strategies to motivate people to embark on a skill journey.
Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions, make comments and share relevant information and material on the online platform.
Organizer: the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); European Training Foundation (ETF)
Language: English
Engagement and employment of youth in agri-food systems is crucial for the future of global food security and nutrition. This masterclass will focus on developing an entrepreneurial mindset, leveraging the project example Mashrou3i ('my project' in Arabic), and how it harnesses the HP LIFE e-learning programme to promote entrepreneurship and business creation in Tunisia. Participants will learn what a success mindset is, how to develop one, and how it helps create a successful future. Dairy farmer and app developer, Hayfa Khafouli, will also share how she is combining entrepreneurship and tech to transform dairy farming in Tunisia. Mashrou3i is a public-private partnership project between the government of Tunisia, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Italian Development Cooperation and the HP Foundation. It fosters youth entrepreneurship and enterprise growth through business coaching and technical assistance.
Organizer: the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
Language: French
Universal social protection (USP) is an essential pillar for an inclusive and sustainable transformation of food systems and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. In recent years, including in response to COVID-19, the scale of social protection has significantly expanded, contributing to reduced poverty, risk, and vulnerability.Based on innovative and well-known practices, we are developing a consortium that promotes several ways for strengthening the linkages between national social protection and food systems towards poverty reduction, food security and better nutrition, including connections with efforts to enhance decent work across food systems. During the event, we will jointly discuss a framework for these linkages and programming examples from different countries with governments, civil society, academic, and international organizations, and the proposed linking of the consortium to USP2030 and its goals around evidence generation and sharing learnings.
Organizer: CARE, GAIN, FAO, ILO, IRC, Tufts, UNICEF, WFP and World Bank
Language: English
The dairy sector is committed to accelerating clime change action worldwide, while at the same time ensuring a sustainable supply of nutritious dairy foods, contributing to zero hunger and no poverty. At the core of the dairy sector efforts is a new Pathways to Dairy Net Zero initiative, a global, multi-stakeholder engagement that is the first of its kind in the world. This session will provide an overview of the new initiative and explain how the global dairy sector is reducing its impact on the planet, while continuing to provide livelihoods for a billion people and nutrition for six billion people.
Organizer: Global Dairy Platform International Dairy Federation
Language: English
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF) are pleased to invite you to the webinar “De-risking agriculture supply chains – Including forests in due diligence processes.” This session will be the second of three online events to be held on “Halting deforestation: approaches and tools for forest-positive commodity value chains”.Objectives:
• Provide an overview of existing guidance for private sector due diligence in agriculture and emerging legislative requirements in consumer countries to ensure responsible business conduct/due diligence in supply chains as they relate to forests and climate change;
• Share experiences and lessons learned from producer countries’ improving due diligence and traceability in the agriculture and forestry sectors;
• Identify needs for technical support in producer countries to effectively respond to emerging measures and strategically attract responsible investment
Organizer: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF)
Language: English, French, Spanish
AGRA is hosting a special TalkCorner as a side event for the UNFSSS Dialogue to consolidate and spotlight the role of women in food systems transformation. The talk corner will feature Dr Hajia Salamatu Garba the founder of Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN), as she reflects on lessons from her years of experience advancing women’s participation in food systems transformation. Dr Garba is also the overall winner of the VALUE4HER Women Agripreneurs of the Year Awards (WAYA2021) in recognition of her efforts in mobilizing functional women led smallholder farmer’s groups, as well as creating commercially registered women agribusiness. The TalkCorner aims to consolidate and spotlight the role of women in food systems transformation emphasize and create awareness on the critical role of women in achieving agenda 2030. Based on lessons learnt the TalkCorner will highlight game changing solution to enable women’s equal participation in African food systems.
Organizer: The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
Language: English
Central to advancing equitable livelihoods in food systems are 500 million small scale food producers who often work in fragile and vulnerable ecosystems. Africa, with 60% of the world’s arable land, can be the world’s future breadbasket, but the continent is a growing net-importer of food. The mission of the Farm to Market Alliance – led by six public and private partners - is to develop a sustainable, inclusive and profitable agricultural sector in Africa. Using a demand-led approach, FtMA services smallholders, while strengthening the broader ecosystem. FtMA leverages a wide array of stakeholders, along and across value chains, to ensure no interventions are missed that prevent farmers and agri-food SMEs from achieving commercial viability. This event will launch a major new partnership for FtMA, review lessons to date that can be applied by others, and, explore the use of innovative tools and partnerships that can accelerate the smallholders’ efforts to farm as a business.
Organizer: FtMA members: Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Bayer, Rabobank, Syngenta, World Food Program, Yara-Unilever
Language: English
The UNFSS has generated widespread understanding of the need for a food systems multistakeholder approach to thinking and acting when it comes to food. The UNFSS process has helped to identify the choices each one of us can make --about how we grow, move, process, acquire, use, prepare and consume food-- can bend our futures towards nourishing people and planet in peace and prosperity. Decision makers can positively shape our food systems by beginning now to make the right choices. Youth are most affected by today’s choices and yet they have the least say in those choices. That must change. Youth must have a leading role in shaping fair, sustainable and equitable food systems, owing to their future and influence. What we do or dont do over the next 5-10 years will determine the next thousands. The future is youth, and food is the future.
Organizer: Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), EAT Foundation, World Wide Fund for Nature, CARE International, Club of Rome, ICCCAD, Act4Food Act4Change, Youngo, Food at COP, Major Group for Children & Youth and Global Indigenous Youth Caucus
Language: English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish
A sizable fraction of the world still faces crippling food insecurity and under-nutrition, while hundreds of millions of people face serious health challenges from lifestyle illnesses. We know that a healthy diet helps to protect against malnutrition in all its forms, as well as protect against non-communicable diseases.Join Colombia and Denmark on September 22nd, 10AM - 12PM EST, against the backdrop of the UN Food System Summit, for a multi-stakeholder roundtable that will provide an opportunity to discuss experiences and learnings on promoting healthy diets globally. The discussion will be informed by a number of different FoodScapes analyses conducted in Bogota and Houston. In addition, we will discuss food through the lenses of access, health and carbon and how community-based action can simultaneously improve food security, the environment and health by changing to an accessible healthy and sustainable diet.
Organizer: The Governments of Colombia and Denmark, in partnership with Gehl Architects, supported by Novo Nordisk A/S
Language: English
As part of the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS), under Action Track 5: Climate Resilient Development Pathways the UNFCCC secretariat has put forward the “Integrative Framework for National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (NAP-SDG iFrame)” among the game changing propositions for the UNFSS. The NAP-SDG iFrame follows a systems approach to coordinating the different entry points or aspects (e.g. climate hazards, sectors, actors, development goals and scale) of the adaptation planning cycle, and serves as a useful tool to manage coherence between the NAPs, SDGs, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and other frameworks. NDCs and the NAPs provide opportunities for different actors and stakeholders to strengthen, align or integrate specific issues including by systems (e.g. food, water and health). This event will present and discuss integrative approaches to scaling implementation of NAPs in concert with other plans.
Organizer: UNFCCC and UNDRR with speakers including from FAO, Club of Rome and UN-Habitat, in addition to keynotes from government (organisation) representatives
Language: English
This event is organized on the eve of FSS to bring together different levels of government, stakeholders and various constituencies. It aims to illustrate the importance of localizing the commitments of the FSS and designing and implementing national plans that take into account place-based needs and priorities. The event also strives to underline the crucial importance of partnerships amongst different spheres of government and stakeholders to support a sustainable and resilient recovery from the pandemic and build an effective pathway towards the achievement of the SDGs.Independent and global dialogues and events organized during the UN FSS Pre-Summit process have highlighted the unique relevance of urban, local and regional governments and the sub-national food systems in achievement of sustainable and inclusive food systems. However, international recognition and presence of those local actors in the multilateral processes still remains limited.
Organizer: The Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments
The Food and Agriculture OrganizationThe Working Group on Urban Food Systems (a group of 26 organizations)
Language: English, French, Spanish
The UN FSS will discuss, consolidate and operationalize actions to transform the way the world produces and consumes food. This initiative is part of the Decade of Action that seeks to accelerate progress on all SDGs, which requires advancing to healthier, more sustainable, resilient and equitable agrifood systems. In this sense, the Living Soils of the Americas, an initiative led by the IICA - Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture in partnership with the Rattan Lal Center for Carbon Management and Sequestration of the Ohio State University, aims to facilitate the collaboration among multisectoral actors to improve soil health and carbon sequestration in agricultural lands. In this very exciting side event of the UN FSS, IICA will count with the experience of Prof. Rattan Lal and other selected partners to discuss the solutions that will put the agri-food systems as a key component to provide healthy food and mitigate climate change.
Organizer: Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture
Language: English - Spanish - Portuguese
This event is the apex of a 2-year work and articulation to engage the Brazilian Business Sector in Food System Transformation and the UN FSS. The invited speakers represent a broader group of 26 companies and organizations working in Brazil that have voiced their positioning to lead systemic change. CEBDS´s President will give an overview of Brazil´s agri-food sector sustainability scenario and agenda, following representatives of some of the engaged companies that will go on about the 3 main priorities of the Food System WG, i.e. the challenge of increasing low carbon and regenerative agriculture, diminishing Food Loss and Waste and universalizing traceability as a main toll to fight illegal deforestation.
Organizer: Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS) // Conselho Empresarial Brasileiro para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável (CEBDS)
Language: English
Local food supply chains in building resilience of food system has been demonstrated by Action Track 5’s work over the course of the UNFSS preparation. The Local Food Supply Chains Alliance seeks to address a combination of priority areas that have emerged from national dialogues and game changing solutions contributed by a variety of stakeholders. The Alliance aims to contribute to transformation of local food systems to withstand disruption and shocks in the short term, support resilient and inclusive economies and societies in the long term. The approach is game-changing as it mobilises technical resources, capital investment and stakeholders at local, national, regional, continental and global levels for structural transformation of food systems.Priority areas include: Local and Regional Food Supply Chains, Local Production for Local Consumption, Public Procurement, Increasing Women’s Agency for Resilience through Economic Empowerment, Equitable Access to Land & Resources
Organizer: World Food ProgrammeUN Capital Development Fund
Language: English
La digitalización de la agricultura puede hacer una contribución fundamental a la transformación de los sistemas alimentarios, y así constituirse en un proceso esencial para lograr los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible. La introducción de tecnologías digitales a la agricultura promete beneficios necesarios para avanzar hacia sistemas alimentarios sostenibles, pero también supone algunas amenazas. Aunque por diversas barreras el nivel de digitalización de la agricultura es aún bajo y desigual, la digitalización de la agricultura es inevitable. Es necesario entonces impulsar activamente la digitalización para que ocurra de manera dinámica e inclusiva, asegurando un balance positivo. En este evento se analizará el rol de la agricultura digital en la transformación de los sistemas alimentarios y las posibles acciones para impulsar la misma y se presentará Misión ADA, una iniciativa de IICA para promover la puesta en acción de la agricultura digital en América Latina y el Caribe.
Organizer: Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación para la Agricultura
Language: Español, inglés y portugués
This unique session aims to launch the “Global Research Initiative and Knowledge Repository to integrate Indigenous Knowledge (IK) into the Food Systems” initiative, which will function as the digital infrastructure, termed as Indigenous Knowledge Research Infrastructure (IKRI). It will combine frontier S&T with IK and complement and contribute to the Global-Hub on Indigenous Peoples' Food Systems led by the FAO.This global initiative was created during the UN FSS Pre-Summit held on July 26th, 2021 (https://caneus.org/unfss2021/), and it builds on the outcome from the UN FSS Global Dialogue “Integration of Frontier Technologies and Indigenous Knowledge for Food Systems Transformation” held on May 31st, 2021. (https://caneus.org/UN-FSS_May_31_en.pdf,https://caneus.org/Report_UNFSS_Global_Dialogue_May_31_2021.pdf)This initiative was developed with the collective efforts of CANEUS, together with FILAC, UNOOSA, ICARDA-CGIAR, AERAP) and LifeWatch ERIC.
Organizer: • CANEUS (Canada-Europe-US-Americas-Asia-Africa Organization on Emerging Technologies for Societal Applications
• FILAC (Fund for the Development of Indigenous Peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean
• UNOOSA (United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
• ICARDA-CGIAR (The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas)
• AERAP (The Africa-Europe Science and Innovation Platform)
• LifeWatch ERIC Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services Research Infrastructure
Language: English and Spanish
As countries develop national plans for food systems transformation, serious efforts are needed to mobilize the financial resources for design, implementation, and M&E. Ethiopia’s national transformation pathway, which is being developed through Ethiopia’s UNFSS process, will be presented at this side event. It offers a valuable example of the evidence-based plans and activities, which will require investment to come to fruition. The event will also feature work undertaken by the CGIAR for the UNFSS finance lever on potential sources of funding for food system transformation activities. Subsequent presentations will feature some innovative finance approaches such as mobilizing impact investors for climate change; financing using CGIAR technologies; increasing access to finance for women in food systems; and using IMF issues Special Drawing Rights to guarantee zero hunger and pandemic recovery bonds. Speakers will reflect on how funding sources can meet national level needs.
Organizer: IFPRI, The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, CGIAR
Language: English
This event brings together Indigenous Peoples experts and practitioners in food systems from all over the world, and those whose struggle to fulfill the needs of communities living in situations of poverty and those who are vulnerable to climate change impact. Speakers at the event include, indigenous representatives of the seven sociocultural regions of the world, ensuring gender and age balance, geographic distribution and sectors involved in food systems. Intended outcomes are:
• achievement of better political support from the Group of Friends, to enforce rights to land and resources;
• identification of stakeholder roles and how those roles are affected by external interests.
• establishment of regular consultation mechanisms within the Group of Friends,
• effective implementation and enforcement of existing legal frameworks;
• promote the reduction of volatility in food prices;
• improve data and knowledge sharing
Organizer: Fund for the Development of Indigenous People's of Latin America and Caribbean ; International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs and Indigenous Peoples' Forum at IFAD
Language: Spanish, English, French, Russian
This event launches a new citizen science initiative reaching out to famers and food consumers around the world to take part in advancing knowledge that can accelerate agroecological transitions. Examples of citizen science approaches used in agroecology and related domains will be showcased followed by discussion of what we can learn about how to make citizen science inclusive and effective. We will look at critiques of the use of big data in agri-food systems transformation and explore how to ensure that this initiative will increase the agency of smallholder farmers and farm workers, women, indigenous peoples and food consumers from all backgrounds. Finally, we will have an interactive session to gather ideas and views from session participants on their priorities for what the initiative should focus on. A series of national and regional events will follow to consolidate the focus of the initiative and then put citizen science into action in support of agroecological transitions.
Organizer: CIFOR-ICRAFThe transformative partnership platform on agroecology (TPP)SwitzerlandFranceAssociation of Asian Farmers
Language: English
In the past, the political and scientific discussion on organic farming was ideologically-driven as there was no or contradicting evidence about how productive and profitable organic agriculture is for smallholder farms.
At this side-event, we will discuss how different forms organic agriculture performed in different real farm settings in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and to what extent they can contribute to sustainable development.
Organic agriculture is certainly not a silver bullet for solving food security issues in SSA. However, organic farming needs to be reframed from a “do not use specific inputs” to a “do better agroecosystem management” approach.
We will demonstrate that, if implemented well, organic agriculture can drastically boost productivity and farm incomes and, thus, substantially contribute to sustainable development in Africa.
We will also highlight examples of various policy measures supporting agroecology and agroecology in African countries.
Organizer: FiBL, IFOAM - Organics International
Language: English
Food and agricultural systems have an enormous impact on human lives, especially in vulnerable communities, the lives of other animals, and the ecosystems and climate on which all species depend. Sustainable, equitable consumption of food has to be a priority with natural resources under threat nearly everywhere, the climate emergency accelerating, and epidemics of food insecurity, poverty, and injustice. This side event will feature speakers from Asia, Africa, and the Americas presenting best practices and policies drawn from on the ground experience, idea laboratories, and a recent “good food” award competition in China. Opportunities for international cooperation in the food system across borders, silos, and worldviews will be explored. Leaders of Act4Food Act4Change will discuss the Youth Declaration for the UNFSS. Plus, members of [email protected], a global network of youth climate activists, will link UNFSS outcomes with priorities for the COP26 climate summit.
Organizer: Brighter Green, the Good Food Fund (China), [email protected], Act4Food Act4Change, Planting Change Foundation
Language: English
Countries affected by conflict and fragility were those left furthest behind by the Millennium Development Goals, which the world pledged not to repeat with the subsequent adoption of the SDGs. SDG 16, more specifically, aims to promote peace and inclusiveness as fundamental pillars.The commitments to reduce suffering and deliver better support for people caught in humanitarian crises have been underscored in other global fora including the first World Humanitarian Summit in 2016, which also highlighted the need to improve cohesion among agencies and efforts addressing humanitarian issues, development and peace. With the recent launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, there is the opportunity to bring together humanitarian assistance, development cooperation and peacebuilding. The humanitarian–development–peace nexus approach, as part of the focus to halt degradation of ecosystems and restore them to build resilience, while reducing vulnerability and increasing adaptability.
Organizer: FAO, CGIAR, CARE International, World Bank, AT5 UNFSS, UNCCD, League of Arab States and International Institute for Environment and Development
Language: English
Generation Africa, a thematic platform of the AGRF; in conjunction with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), is hosting a youth centric FSS side event dubbed ‘The Favourite Food Extravaganza’ that seeks to showcase and appreciate the different cuisines globally and highlight the nutritional aspect of local indigenous dishes in a fun and relatable manner.
The overarching goal for the Favourite Food Extravaganza is in alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – in particular, to end malnutrition in all its forms by 2030 and to strengthen the link between diet, food systems and health.
Organizer: Generation Africa, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
Language: English
Micro nutrients, increase of agriculture productivity and healthy balanced diets are key to overcome Guatemala's key challenges on nutrition and sustainabilty. Micro nutrientes, aumento del crecimiento de la productividad agrícola y dietas saludables y balanceadas son clave para avanzar en los retos de nutrición y sostenibilidad en Guatemala.
Organizer: Cámara del Agro Guatemala
Language: Spanish / Español
Following on from Quota's pre-Food Systems Summit event presenting the Omnilabel proposal, this event is an upate, presenting new speakers from:
- Emeline Fellus, Director Food Reform for Sustainability and Health (FReSH) at World Business Council for Sustainable Development
- Viktoria de Bourbon de Parme, Food Transformation Lead at World Benchmarking Alliance
- Pete Ritchie, Executive Director Nourish Scotland
- Maja-Catrin Riecher, of WWF Germany
- Emily Ma, Head of Food for Good at Google
- Tim Lang, Emeritus Professor at City University London who first proposed an Omnilabel 20 years ago
Organizer: Quota.Media
Language: English but translations will be available
A session with the co-authors of a forthcoming call for a rigorous, science-based monitoring framework to track food systems and their transformation. We argue that clear metrics and monitoring are necessary to support evidence-based policymaking. Metrics and monitoring are similarly necessary to ensure accountability and progress towards timebound goals (SDGs, Paris Climate Agreement, Kunming Biodiversity targets), all requiring food systems transformation to succeed. We will present a monitoring framework centered around five thematic areas: (1) diets, nutrition, and health; (2) environment and climate; and (3) livelihoods, poverty, and equity; (4) governance; and (5) resilience and sustainability. We will share plans for an external adapted Delphi process and to analyze selected indicators to provide an independently assessed, peer reviewed food systems baseline against which progress can be assessed. Committed to consultative processes and transparency, we welcome contributions and
Organizer: Johns Hopkins University, GAIN, FAO
Language: English
We engage partner organizations by enhancing proven food systems to provide small holder farmers sustainable entrepreneurial opportunities, stimulate economic growth, foster community development and contribute to ending world hunger.
Organizer: The Outreach Program
Language: English