‘One in Twelve People Will Go to Bed Hungry’, Secretary-General Warns in Message to Food Security Committee

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the fifty-fourth session of the Committee on World Food Security, in Rome today:

Our global food system is under immense strain. Despite decades of progress, hunger remains unacceptably high, as conflicts, climate chaos and rising costs push basic nutrition beyond the reach of millions.

Progress on Sustainable Development Goal Two is uneven, and a supercharged El Niño threatens the food systems we all rely on, especially in developing countries.

The Committee on World Food Security was created to address such challenges. Here, Governments, farmers, business, Indigenous Peoples, foundations, scientists and civil society come together to forge solutions.

That includes empowering and protecting women and smallholder farmers, deploying data to anticipate risks and guide investment. And safeguarding the rights of pastoralists and Indigenous Peoples; peace is also a vital ingredient in food security.

It provides the stability communities and agricultural systems need to thrive. We must keep food and fertilizer supply chains open and moving. And that requires multilateralism.

I urge you to use this session to share knowledge, build consensus and turn shared commitments into action.

Tonight, one in twelve people will go to bed hungry. Your work can help re-write that story. Food is a fundamental human right. And together, we can deliver sustainable, healthy and equitable food systems for all.