Prioritizing agrifood systems transformation: FAO’s message at ECOSOC

At the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Special Meeting "Transforming agrifood systems for stability and security", FAO, represented by Chief Economist Máximo Torero Cullen, stressed that the impact of agrifood system transformation transcends the agrifood sector, also influencing the global economic, social and stability agendas.

In his intervention, he underlined the role of agrifood systems transformation as a powerful lever for growth that can fuel food security, poverty reduction, resilience, and peace. However, agrifood systems remain systematically underfunded where needs are greatest and the positive impacts the biggest. He went on to state that agrifood systems are central to achieving "good food for all for today and tomorrow-today ensuring the universal right to food and tomorrow ensuring that actions taken now are sustainable so that future generations can also realize that right".

Máximo Torero Cullen, FAO Chief Economist speaking at the ECOSOC Special Meeting

Torero reminded all present that global hunger and malnutrition remain higher than pre-pandemic levels, with 673 million people undernourished in 2024, 2.3 billion facing moderate or severe food insecurity and 2.6 billion unable to afford a healthy diet. He added that agrifood systems are being affected by systemic shocks, including excessive volatile food prices, climate shocks, economic slowdowns, high input costs, and geopolitical instability.

After painting this sobering picture, Torero highlighted five priority areas for action: aligning policies across agriculture, climate, trade, employment and health; repurposing agricultural subsidies to support sustainable and nutritious outcomes; scaling up investments that generate employment and strengthen value chains; ensuring that digital innovation enhances inclusion ; and placing the world's most vulnerable countries at the centre of global support.

The Chief Economist concluded his intervention by urging the international community to prioritize the transformation of agrifood systems to strengthen food security, as well as reduce conflict risks and foster stability, underscoring that hunger, malnutrition and rural poverty are not inevitable.