Reflections from the UN Food Systems Summit+4 in Addis Ababa

The UN Food Systems Summit was initiated in 2019 on the Secretary-General’s initiative to accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda goals and transform the food system to make it more sustainable, resilient to hunger, resource-efficient, and less emissions-intensive.

This launched a complex process mobilizing most UN Member States to produce national-level pathways together  with stakeholders. In Sweden, the national pathway included strong commitments to revisit the Swedish food policy to increase food security and improve nutrition. This goal can only be reached by closer collaboration within the food and agriculture sectors, and by breaking down barriers between sectors and actors, including the private sector, civil society, and academia.

SIANI was established to dismantle precisely these kinds of barriers and was instrumental in this process. We supported the Swedish government and other organizations in convening experts and stakeholders for food system dialogues, the outcomes of which informed the first Food Systems Summit in 2021.

UNFSS+4 highlights and trends

The UN flagship report on the State of Food Insecurity (SOFI) was launched at the Summit. The trends presented in the report were uneven. There has been some progress in some regions – Brazil has been taken off the Hunger Map, for instance – but others, such as Africa, needed more urgent focus. Globally, one third of the population could not afford a healthy diet in 2022 with women and children being most affected.

The biggest achievements happened before the summit. Already at the first stocktaking in 2023, it was clear that governments had begun to act on their roadmaps. There was significantly more internal collaboration and stronger connections between agriculture, health, climate, and trade. This time, Summit highlights included a broader emphasis on participation, financing, successful examples of national strategies and private partnerships, and growing interest in soil health and traditional crops.

A truly global Summit

For the first time, the Summit was held on African soil, in Addis Ababa. A greater number of African countries were able to take part, resulting in wider international collaboration and stronger recognition of Africa’s central role in shaping global food systems. Ethiopia also showcased local innovations critical for transformation of the food system through site visits for delegates.

Inspiring action: Italy–Ethiopia coffee connection and Brazil off the Hunger Map

A strong example of collaboration between countries came from the hosts themselves – Italy and Ethiopia – and their shared love of coffee. In Ethiopia, there is considerable potential to expand the sector and better link producers to the market. Leading Italian coffee companies have partnered with Ethiopian smallholders to build a more sustainable value chain by training farmers, improving quality, and boosting smallholder incomes.

Another milestone was Brazil being lifted off the Hunger Map. The country is a strong example of what can be achieved through comprehensive and coherent national policies and cross-sector collaboration to make the food system more sustainable and just. Part these policies is Brazil’s National School Meals Programme (PNAE), which mandates that at least 30% of food be procured from smallholders. The programme was also expanded to cover more Indigenous territories, allowing additional communities to benefit from nutritious food in a culturally appropriate way. Today, details of this successful programme are being shared in the School Meals Coalition, where it can act as both inspiration and a practical model that other countries can adapt and scale up.

Inclusion

It is clear that the social side of food systems transformation has advanced, with women, young people, and Indigenous Peoples actively participating in shaping this transformation from the outset, for example through Coalitions of Action.

Coalitions are thematic networks open to civil society, advocacy organizations, and the private sector. Their work addresses inclusion directly—for example through the Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems Coalition—and indirectly by broadening participation to grassroots actors and creating safe spaces where marginalized communities, especially Indigenous Peoples, can articulate their priorities and secure necessary support.

The emerging action on soil health

Healthy soil is fundamental for food production. With vast areas of soil rapidly eroding, urgent solutions are needed. Erosion is especially pronounced in drylands, which are home to large populations whose livelihoods depend on soil. SIANI is active in the Coalition for Action for Soil Health and at UNFSS+4 participated in a side event on the topic. We showcased the work of our Drylands Expert Group, demonstrating how agroforestry in East Africa could improve soil health and farmers’ livelihoods in drylands. It was encouraging to see that this critical issue is finally gaining momentum.

Renewed interest in traditional crops

Western support also introduced large-scale monocultures, leaving developing economies dependent on just one or two crops, undermining biodiversity and food security. Interest is now growing in traditional and “forgotten” crops, driven by rising national pride, increased demand for minimally processed foods, and the COVID-19 pandemic, which underscored the importance of relying on local food production in the face of disrupted supply chains.

At a study visit to an injera factory, we witnessed this renewed interest firsthand. Injera is made from teff flour, an ancient grain native to Ethiopia. Such crops are often more resilient, even in landscapes affected by climate change, and support biodiversity and food security. Still, there is limited research on these crops and insufficient tools to promote their use, such as cookbooks.

Changing development funding landscape

The development funding landscape is shifting, with traditional Western donors reducing their support and philanthropies stepping in. This trend is particularly visible in Ethiopia, where funding from non-Western countries such as China and the United Arab Emirates is expanding. While these investments can bring positive developments, such as improved infrastructure, increasing reliance on new donors could mean that traditional partners miss out on opportunities. Over the years, Ethiopia has also strengthened its internal capacity for certification and standardization, improving product quality and making trade smoother, more sustainable, and less costly. This shows how the funding landscape is not only diversifying but reshaping Ethiopia’s long-term development path.

Man-made famines

A recurring theme at the conference was the sobering reality that hunger is on the rise in countries affected by conflicts and that today’s food insecurity crises are largely human-driven. Conditions are dire in Gaza, Sudan, and South Sudan, where famine is unfolding and hunger is being weaponized. This crisis must end and only concerted global action can bring it to an end.

What should future UNFSS address?

In any future Summits, I would hope to see significantly greater progress from many more countries on their national roadmaps addressing nutrition and climate change in food production value chains.

I would especially like to see greater focus on young farmers, who are crucial for the long-term development of the sector and for ensuring future food security. Young farmers can also accelerate transformation by introducing innovation and quickly adopting new technologies that make food production more efficient.

SIANI’s role in advancing UNFSS efforts

SIANI was primarily established to unite many different actors for more coherent and joint Swedish agricultural development efforts. Coordinated responses are essential to address such complex issues as food security, zero hunger, and sustainable agricultural production, and our network remains well placed to support them.

We contribute by enabling knowledge transfer, providing cross-sectoral networking opportunities, and forging partnerships. One example is the pollination gap, where the pollination services required for maximum crop yields are lower than what is actually available, resulting in lost food production and income. Increasing pollination is one of the most cost-effective ways to boost yields, but farmers are often unaware of these benefits because the information does not reach them. Our expert group on pollination is working to close this gap through living labs, research, and by sharing knowledge directly with farmers and between them.

We will continue to share knowledge and mobilize action through our website, events, and webinars, strengthening our collective mission to achieve zero hunger.