Rome: The 2025 edition of the World Food Forum (WFF) commenced today at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome. The week-long event is marked by the participation of 10 heads of state and government, 115 Ministers and Vice-Ministers, alongside various representatives from governments, private sectors, civil societies, international organizations, research institutions, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and other stakeholders in agrifood systems.
According to EMM, the Forum, themed "Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future," anticipates a record-breaking attendance with over 25,000 participants registered. This gathering aims to foster dialogue, innovation, and partnerships to transform global agrifood systems. This year's Forum holds added significance as it aligns with the 80th anniversary of FAO, a milestone reflecting eight decades of leadership in combating hunger and promoting food security, nutrition, sustainable agriculture, and rural development.
FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu reminded attendees of the persistent issue of hunger, affecting approximately 673 million people, or 8.2 percent of the global population. While progress has been made since FAO's inception, when two-thirds of the world's population faced hunger, today's numbers remain a concern. Currently, 2.3 billion people experience food insecurity, with 2.6 billion unable to afford a healthy diet. Highlighting the compounded challenges of climate shocks, conflict, and biodiversity loss, Qu emphasized the need for collective action and the transformation of global agrifood systems.
In his remarks, King Letsie III of Lesotho, FAO Special Ambassador for Nutrition, underscored the necessity of political will and sustained investment in transforming agrifood systems. He highlighted the long-term benefits of such transformation, including reduced import bills, increased youth employment opportunities, and enhanced resilience to climate shocks, far outweighing initial costs. He advocated for enabling policies and targeted investments in infrastructure, innovation, and rural development.
Brazil's President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, stressed that eradicating hunger demands collective perseverance and a renewed commitment to equity and multilateral cooperation. He pointed out that while enough food is produced globally, persistent inequalities result in millions still going hungry. Lula called for integrating the poor into state budgets and urged governments to establish hunger eradication as a state policy.
Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh's interim Government, argued that hunger is a moral failure rather than a scarcity issue. He advocated for social business models to empower farmers, rural women, and youth, emphasizing the role of young people as job creators. Yunus also highlighted that investment in agrotechnology and innovation could not only feed the world but also transform it.
In video messages, Presidents Miguel Díaz-Canel of Cuba, Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic, and Michael D. Higgins of Ireland congratulated FAO on its 80th anniversary. They emphasized the urgent need for global solidarity and transformative action to build sustainable, fair, and inclusive agrifood systems that ensure the right to food for all.
The event also featured roundtables promoting dialogue between global leaders, policymakers, and youth innovators. In these discussions, participants like Princess Basma bint Ali of Jordan and the Prime Ministers of Djibouti and Eswatini emphasized the importance of youth engagement, investment in agrifood systems, and the role of science and innovation in creating resilient and inclusive food systems.
Cultural performances and thematic videos highlighted the Forum's message that culture and creativity are catalysts for transformation. The WFF's three pillars—Global Youth Forum, Science and Innovation Forum, and Hand-in-Hand Initiative Investment Forum—serve as a collaborative framework uniting youth, science, and innovation to generate tangible change.
The Forum's agenda includes a series of high-level events and flagship moments, such as the first-ever FAO Global Exhibition, the Inauguration of the Food and Agriculture Museum and Network, the World Food Day Ceremony, and the designation of chef Fatmata Binta as FAO Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Africa. The World Food Forum 2025 continues to serve as a platform for transforming global dialogue into concrete solutions for a sustainable food future.