Food system resilience formed the core of discussions at the World Summit for Social Development in Doha. The UN Food Systems Coordination Hub urged governments to accelerate fair and sustainable food strategies to advance global development. Food system resilience remains essential to achieving long-term social, environmental, and economic goals.
Stefanos Fotiou, Director of the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, stressed that transforming food systems goes beyond improving agricultural productivity. He emphasized that governments must address the wider social challenges linked to inequality, livelihoods, and access to resources. Moreover, he stated that sustainable food systems directly influence progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Hub supports national governments through technical assistance and stakeholder engagement. It works closely with National Food System Conveners to identify priorities and shape tailored transformation strategies. Furthermore, the Hub coordinates UN agencies and partners around each country’s specific needs. This approach ensures practical implementation rather than only high-level dialogue.
Fotiou explained that the Hub connects global commitments with local action. Consequently, the organization translates global development messages into national planning frameworks. He highlighted that many countries now have clear food system transformation pathways in place.
However, progress toward several SDGs remains uneven. Fotiou noted that hunger indicators show only slight improvement. Meanwhile, inequality continues to widen among smallholder and family farmers. These farmers produce a significant share of the world’s food supply, yet they often receive limited income and weak social protection. Therefore, he called for fairer value-chain structures that reward producers with decent livelihoods.
He stated that strengthening farming communities requires income stability, social protection systems, education, and affordable healthcare. Additionally, governments must ensure that farmers gain a meaningful share of the economic value generated across supply chains.
Food systems influence nearly every aspect of the 2030 Agenda. Consequently, sustainable food policies can advance climate goals, environmental protection, and poverty reduction. Fotiou emphasized that reforming food systems offers broad benefits for societies, not only agricultural outcomes.
He pointed out that sustainable food system strategies support national development in areas such as job creation, education, community welfare, and climate adaptation. Furthermore, countries integrating sustainability into agriculture often experience stronger social cohesion and more stable growth.
Food system resilience depends on collaboration among governments, private sectors, civil society, and research institutions. Fotiou encouraged continued knowledge sharing through global platforms while urging faster implementation at local levels.
Looking ahead, the Hub plans to expand direct country support and deepen cooperation across agencies. The organization aims to strengthen policy alignment, improve data frameworks, and scale funding for community-level food system initiatives.
Food system resilience will remain central to global development efforts as nations work toward sustainable and equitable futures.
