EU participation at the UNFSS Pre-Summit: Shaping the road to New York

A mind-set shift, youth, inclusion for indigenous people and women, political will, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the right to food – these were some of the key issues on the agenda at the Pre-Summit to the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS), held between 26–28 July in Rome and hosted by FAO. Strong engagement, energy and commitment to transforming food systems through dynamic coalitions and backed by finance, governance and technologies have helped to shape a robust roadmap for the UNFSS, due to take place in New York in September.

In his closing remarks at the Pre-Summit, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu stressed that the time to act is now and that just nine agricultural seasons remain before 2030 – the deadline for the SDGs – in order to make food systems efficient, resilient, inclusive, just and sustainable.

Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski represented the European Union during the three days of discussions and intervened during a number of sessions. He outlined the EU vision for sustainable food systems underpinned by the European Green Deal and its Farm to Fork Strategy, which focuses on a transition to a healthy planet through actions to mitigate climate change, reverse biodiversity loss and ensure food security, nutrition and healthy diets for all, while generating fair economic returns.

“The agricultural sector should be the base of our food systems, while being productive for society, profitable for farmers and protective of our environment,” he told the audience. He explained that the EU’s new Common Agricultural Policy will have National Strategic Plans that will include actions to ensure sustainable food production and stimulate sustainable food processing and food services. The recently unveiled EU Code of Conduct on Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices is one of the Farm to Fork Strategy’s major features, which will help the EU to mainstream sustainability across entire supply chains, including at global level.

While recognizing the need to increase sustainability in food systems, the Commissioner stressed that the EU will further strengthen its efforts to achieve the Zero Hunger SDG, as well as targets for improved nutrition. He highlighted key areas of focus, such as food loss and waste, One Health, nature-based solutions and ecosystem restoration, organic production and agro-ecology, as well as family farming and research and innovation in the agriculture sector.

The European Commission, through its Directorates-General and various platforms, has been active in contributing to the Pre-Summit through a range of affiliated sessions:

• Accelerating innovation for food systems transformation with national and regional impact
• Coalition for Carbon+ Farming Journey: European Green Deal in action
• The EU Code of Conduct on Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices
• Nutrition for growth and cohesion – How next generation school feeding programmes can support carbon farming and sustainable food system transformation
• Everyone at the table: Co-creating knowledge for food systems transformation
• Deep dives into the nexus of food systems, climate change and nutrition

The need to focus on climate change mitigation and adaptation measures, combat rising hunger and malnutrition, and recognize the interconnection between planetary health, human well-being and a holistic and systemic approach to food systems transformation, was one of the major takeaways of the Pre-Summit and its affiliated sessions.