New York/Rome. Held during the annual UN General Assembly high-level week in New York, the Food Systems Summit brought together world leaders, experts, farmers and producers, indigenous peoples, the private sector and civil society, uniting participants in one of the most comprehensive attempts yet to align agri-food production and consumption with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Summit comes at a critical time. After decades of decline, the number of hungry people has been growing for the past five years and the COVID-19 pandemic has compounded the problem, creating severe setbacks in the progress made so far to achieve the SDGs by 2030.

For the first time, a comprehensive approach towards agri-food systems transformation was adopted at the event in order to fight poverty and hunger, reduce inequalities and preserve the environment. In his remarks, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu pledged that FAO would take the leadership role in implementing the outcomes and work with all to transform agri-food systems. He emphasized FAO’s focus on strengthening the science-policy interface and the need for “more and better targeted and sustained investment.” He also noted that FAO would use its flagship programmes, such as the Hand-in-Hand Initiative and the Food Coalition, as important mechanisms for accelerating the transformation of agri-food systems at country level and to mobilize the required investment.

During the national dialogues and announcements of national commitments to the Summit process, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed Vietnam’s commitment in transforming food systems in a “transparent, responsible, and sustainable” manner. President Phuc emphasized six priorities, including:

• Pursuing a multi-value agricultural development model, encompassing socio-economic-cultural issues, landscapes and the environment. Ensuring the development of green, low-emission and “nature-based” agriculture that is climate resilient and responsive to the COVID-19 pandemic with a focus on rural economic development for food security. Reducing food loss and waste, rationally using natural resources and preserving biodiversity.

• Investing in agricultural infrastructure to serve agriculture production and rural economic development. Encouraging the participation of the private sector in making responsible investment and replicating the effective public-private partnership model.

• Building and updating a National Food Balance Sheet to orient production and distribution. Strengthening education and communication to create a healthy food system, appropriate eating habits, balanced nutrition, green and responsible consumption trends, while avoiding loss and waste.

• Digital transformation together with policy and institutional reforms in which farmers and consumers are the main focus. Forming sustainable agricultural value chains focusing on food safety and standardized procedures and qualities.

• Joining the UN’s cooperation arrangements with the aim of becoming a food innovation hub in the region.

• Expanding international cooperation in researching, forecasting and building early warning systems for natural disasters, epidemics and sustainable management of land, water, biodiversity, cross-border water and marine resources.

President Phuc asserted Vietnam’s commitment to “work together” with all to make the realization of the SDGs – 2030 possible.