Table for 10 Billion? Leaders to Unlock More Sustainable and Equitable Food Future

Published

18 Nov 2020

2020

Amanda Russo, Public Engagement, World Economic Forum, +41 79 392 6898, arus@weforum.org

The food system needs to fundamentally change in order to feed the planet’s estimated 10 billion people by 2050, while ending hunger and ensuring equitable access to nutrition
Chefs, farmers and innovators join leaders of business, government, civil society and the public to discuss these issues and share solutions at the Bold Actions for Food as a Force for Good event from 23-24 November
The UN Secretary General will convene a Food System Summit in September 2021 to put the world back on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030; This event has been independently organised in support of this summit
Country spotlights to showcase success stories from Oceania, ASEAN, South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Americas and beyond
Learn more and view sessions

Geneva, Switzerland, 18 November 2020 – The COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated vulnerabilities in food systems – highlighting the insecurity of rural livelihoods, the tragedy of food waste, and stark inequities in access to healthy food. As the global population races to 10 billion, more needs to be done to feed the planet while tackling the environmental impact of agriculture and addressing lack of biodiversity.

To mobilize the coordinated and large-scale action needed to support our future, the World Economic Forum and13 organizations from the public and private sectors have partnered on the Bold Actions for Food as a Force for Good event from 23-24 November 2020.

Next week’s meeting brings together a global network of leaders who can drive transformational change in the food industry; identify potential ‘game changer’ initiatives and necessary action plans for a more sustainable food system; and bring onboard different perspectives from all over the world. The virtual event has been independently organised in support of the United Nation’s 2021 Food Systems Summit.

Key sessions will be livestreamed on the Forum’s website. To participate in the meeting, ask questions and share ideas, please register for the Forum’s TopLink platform. Members of the media can request accreditation here.

The event will cover five key themes, aligned with the five Action Tracks of the UN Summit, including:

Safe and Nutritious Food for All
Sustainable Consumption Patterns
Nature-Positive Production
Equitable Livelihoods
Resilience

Key sessions to watch:

A Vision for Food Systems of the Future: What do we need to know and what can be done to tackle the urgent food crisis from the perspectives of ministers, farmers, young entrepreneurs, influencers and others.
Building a Stronger Food System: Game-changing initiatives and solutions that could make the food system more sustainable and equitable.
Innovation Challenges: Wageningen University and One Young World will host sessions featuring new innovations from young students and entrepreneurs.
Closing Plenary: This session will provide an overview of the priorities and commitments from multiple stakeholders across the two-day event.

This joint-partner organized event is co-led by the World Economic Forum, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), World Farmers Organization, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Unilever, PepsiCo, Royal DSM, Rabobank, One Young World, Tufts University's Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy, Wageningen University & Research, and the Government of The Netherlands.

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All opinions expressed are those of the author. The World Economic Forum Blog is an independent and neutral platform dedicated to generating debate around the key topics that shape global, regional and industry agendas.