In 2021, the UN Food Systems Summit, convened by the UN Secretary-General, aimed to accelerate progress across all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a food
systems approach. By leveraging the interconnectedness of food systems with global challenges such as hunger, climate change, poverty, and inequality, the Summit showcased
national food systems pathways submitted by appointed National Food Systems Convenors. It also facilitated the formation of coalitions of organizations and institutions to support these pathways and saw the announcement of hundreds of commitments from a wide range of actors.
Since 2021, two global Stocktakes have been convened: the first in Rome (2023), Italy, and the second in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (2025). These Stocktakes brought together national
delegations and non-state actors to review progress on country-level food systems transformation and to identify needs and priorities for advancing transformation and
achieving the SDGs, culminating in the Secretary-General’s Call to Action. In addition, annual regional meetings have been convened alongside the Regional Sustainable Development
Forums, providing platforms for countries and regional actors to exchange best practices and facilitate knowledge sharing.
The UNFSS+4 Secretary-General’s Call to Action ”From Rome to Addis and Beyond” urges countries and partners to grow momentum and investments around six priority areas:
1. Urgent Delivery in Complex Settings: Strengthening responses to food insecurity and climate shocks through rapid financing, innovation, and humanitarian support.
2. Dialogue, Policy and Coordination: Deepening implementation of national pathways, enhancing policy coherence, and strengthening inclusive multi-stakeholder
engagement.
3. Finance and Investment: Mobilizing domestic resources and expanding access to public, private, and blended finance aligned with national priorities.
4. Integration: Accelerating solutions that link environmental, economic, and social objectives, such as agroecology, regenerative agriculture, sustainable procurement,
and school meals.
5. Science, AI and Technology: Enhancing science–policy interfaces, digital and AI- enabled tools, and access to technologies for resilient food systems.
6. Intergenerational Collaboration: Empowering youth as co-leaders of transformation and strengthening their role in policy processes and innovation ecosystems.
The objectives of the meeting are to:
1. Enable an interactive knowledge exchange and peer-to-peer learning: Share key post-UNFSS+4 updates to highlight regional progress, gaps, and priority areas among
National Convenors, policymakers, practitioners, and key multistakeholders to exchange knowledge and learning on accelerating food systems transformation. By
promoting policy coherence and integrated actions, the session will advance the achievement of SDGs. The events will serve as platforms where countries can present
operationalizing convergence-driven approaches that break down silos and deliver integrated outcomes, including implementation-ready solutions, financing initiatives,
and investment instruments.
2. Strengthen collaboration and partnerships: Facilitate dialogue among countries and major partners. This includes regional bodies, UN agencies, research institutions,
farmer organizations, Indigenous Peoples’ groups, youth networks, civil society, SMEs, and financial institutions to advance national food system pathways, identify new
financing opportunities, and elevate youth and women’s leadership – positioning intergenerational collaboration as a core principle of positive transformation.
3. Promote scalable solutions and support mechanisms: Showcase flagship initiatives of the Hub and the Ecosystem of Support, alongside other opportunities to advance
country-level food systems transformation, including accelerating financing and innovation through mechanisms such as the 3FS Framework, the Food Systems
Accelerator, and blended public–private instruments, with a strong focus on reaching smallholders and local enterprises.
4. Catalyze implementation and investment at country level: Translate commitments and policy ambitions into concrete, investable actions by supporting countries to
* This Concept Note is a working draft prepared to support initial discussions on the 2026 Food Systems Transformation Meetings. Content, scope, and modalities remain subject to further refinement and validation. identify priority implementation pathways, de-risk investments, and connect national food systems priorities with available financing windows, investors, and technical assistance. The event will contribute to building a pipeline of bankable, scalable interventions aligned with national pathways, NDCs, SDGs, and long-term development strategies.
2026 Food Systems Transformation Meetings
-
Asia-Pacific (ESCAP): 2–3 March 2026, ESCAP
-
Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC): 9-10 April 2026, ECLAC
-
Arab States (ESCWA): 15-16 April 2026, ESCWA
-
Europe (ECE): 23 April 2026, ECE
-
Africa (ECA): TBC, UNECA
More information here.