Join the Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge at UNFSS+2

Natalie Mouyal
Published on 12-07-2023

According to the latest estimates (SOFI, 2023), 735 million people are suffering from food insecurity. Food prices are rising, and conflicts continue unabated in many parts of the world. Extreme weather conditions, from droughts to floods, are placing further pressure on food systems and driving more people into hunger. 

Government resources are limited. From the aftermath of the covid-19 pandemic to the current economic downturn, limited resources are available to undertake the necessary transformation of food systems. 

For this reason, the private sector has a crucial role to play.   

The Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge, launched at the United Nations Food System Summit (UNFSS) in 2021, has mobilized over half a billion dollars towards SDG 2 (zero hunger). Forty-four companies have pledged to align their investments in 47 priority countries and with 10 high-impact intervention areas as identified in the Ceres2030 project, which offered a roadmap to ending hunger sustainably.  

But where are we now? 

Join us at the UNFSS+2 Stocktaking Moment 

The Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge is co-organising a side-event at the UNFSS +2 Stocktaking Moment to assess private sector ambition, action and accountability towards food systems transformation since the 2021 Summit. Company representatives will discuss how they are contributing to SDG 2 and what more can be done to catalyse food systems transformation.  

The side-event will bring together the following speakers: 

  • Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director General, FAO

  • Eija Hietavuo , Group Vice President Corporate Affairs at TetraPak 

  • Leonardus Vergütz, Chief Innovation Officer at OCP Group 

  • Gabriela Wurcel, Multilateral Affairs Director at FMC Corporation and Vice Chair of the Food and Agriculture Committee, Business at OECD 

  • Agnes Kalibata, President of AGRA 

The panel discussion will be moderated by Michael Keller, Chair of the International Agri-Food Network. 

Registration and further details 

The side-event, entitled Private Sector Ambition, Action & Accountability towards Food Systems Transformation: Where are we now and where do we need to go next? will take place on Wednesday, 26 July from 13:30-14:30 CEST in the Philippines room at the FAO headquarters in Rome. 

The side-event will also be live streamed: https://fao.6connex.eu/event/conference/unfss2023/login