4th Global Conference of the One Planet Network's Sustainable Food Systems Programme - THE TRANSFORMATION WE NEED

April 20, 2023, Ha Noi, Viet Nam. The Fourth Global Conference of the Sustainable Food Systems Programme of the UN’s One Planet Network will be held between 24 - 27 April 2023 in Ha Noi. The conference will focus on how food systems need to be transformed in order to overcome the multiple deeply rooted and interlinked crises of climate, biodiversity, conflict, energy, prices, hunger, malnutrition, and health to achieve the SDGs. The conference contributes toward the 2023 Stocktaking Moment of the UN Food Systems Summit, scheduled for 24-26 July 2023 in Rome.

A number of sessions, including a Dialogue among National Convenors (UN FSS Dialogues) and a range of side events, will be held.

The One Planet network was specifically mandated by UN member states Rio+20Conference on Sustainable Development. As one of its six thematic programs, the SFS Programme is a global multi-stakeholder partnership with over 190 global members that aims to accelerate the shift towards more sustainable consumption and production across all the elements that form our food systems. The SFS Programme defends that a more holistic and inclusive approach is required to successfully address the multiple challenges present today in our unsustainable food systems.

The conference aims to present transformational actions, tools and initiatives that have emerged since the UN FSS held in September 2021 with a view to promote their uptake and upscaling in national and local policy-making processes.

Moreover, the goal is to further promote the food systems approach and inclusive governance and collaboration at all levels – including multilateral policy processes and particularly Rio Conventions – with a view to foster their uptake for the development of multi-sectoral action plans towards sustainable consumption and production in food systems; and

Furthermore, the conference will provide a space for National Convenors, UN FSS coalitions and other relevant multi-actor initiatives as well as other food systems actors such as youth, civil society and farmer organizations, to build capacities and deepen their collective efforts towards sustainable food systems pathways, prior to the July meeting.

The conference will enable diverse stakeholders to showcase early signs of success in implementing UN FSS results, including by presenting tools and techniques that deal with interdependencies and trade-offs of the food systems challenges, allowing the sharing of lessons and experiences, with the goal of strengthening alliances and impactful initiatives that can deliver concrete actions in support of National Pathways.

The conference will also discuss food system challenges and peer-to-peer learning and sharing of experiences from across the globe, emphasizing Asian region country participation.

"We are living an unprecedented food security crisis. That's why we need to act now in a globally coordinated manner. Those most affected by this crisis do not have time for lack of coordination. Nor do future generations, who count on food systems transformation to secure their human right to adequate food, dignified livelihoods and a healthy planet." - H.E. Ambassador Gabriel Ferrero, Chairperson, UN Committee on World Food Security.

The event is hosted by the Government of Viet Nam, under the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and co-organized by the Co-Leads of the Sustainable Food Systems Programme: Switzerland; Costa Rica, and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF); together with the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub. The organizing committee has been further formed by Alliance of Bioversity & CIAT, Asian Farmers Association for Sustainable Rural Development, Rikolto, the Major Group for Children and Youth, UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Environment (UNEP), UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Organization support has also been provided by INRAe, Food Action Alliance, Project X, UN Nutrition, USDA, and the World Benchmarking Alliance.  And further support has been generously provided by ACIAR, Canada, CGIAR One Health initiative, CGIAR ILRI, CGIAR Sustainable Healthy Diets initiative, CIFOR-ICRAF, CIRAD, IKI – Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), Ireland, One Health Partnership, Oxfam, and UNIDO

The conference will be held at the Sheraton Hanoi Hotel.

Welcoming more than 150 participants from across governmental entities, private sector companies, civil society organizations, research institutions and UN agencies, the conference will feature various speakers, including H.E. Lê Minh Hoan, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in Viet Nam; H.E. Mr. Maury Hechavarría Bermúdez, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Agriculture of Cuba; H.E. Christian Hofer, Director-General, Federal Office for Agriculture, Switzerland; Honorable Saboto Caesar, H.E. Meles Mekonen, State Minister for Agriculture and Horticulture, Ethiopia; H.E. Ambassador Gabriel Ferrero, CFS Chairperson; H.E. Sok Silo, Secretary General, Council for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD), Office of the Council of Ministers, Cambodia; Su McCluskey, Special Representative for Australian Agriculture; Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General, UNCTAD; Joao Campari, Global Food Lead, WWF; Corinna Hawkes, Food Systems and Food Safety Director, FAO; Prof. Dao The Anh, Vice-president Viet Nam Academy of Agriculture Sciences; Nadine Gbossa, Director Food Systems Coordination, IFAD, Chief Means of Implementation, UN Food Systems Coordination Hub; Dr. Ann Trevenen-Jones, Lead of the Food Systems Governance programme at The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), among others.

More information:

Mr. Michael Mulet Solon (WWF): Michael.Mulet@wwf.de

What do we mean by a Sustainable Food System?

The food system brings together all elements (environment, people, inputs, processes, infrastructures, institutions) and activities related to the production, processing, distribution, preparation and consumption of food and the impacts of these activities, including economic and environmental outcomes.

A sustainable food system (SFS) is one that delivers food security and nutrition for all in such a way that the economic, social and environmental bases to produce food are not compromised for future generations.

In other words, the food system determines the quantity, quality and diversity of food available for consumption. The growing urbanization, the change in food patterns and the new ways of producing and processing food has changed the quantity, quality and social and environmental impact of the food consumed today.

Under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, food systems must guarantee a better nutrition for all people, in a more sustainable way, mitigating climate change, with the aim of ensuring adequate food and a healthy life for all people now and in the future.