The Food Forum./PHOTO ; by FAO
The 2025 edition of the World Food Forum (WFF) flagship event opened at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, launching a week of dialogue, innovation, and partnership dedicated to transforming global agrifood systems.
Held under the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,” this year’s Forum has drawn a record 25,000 participants, including 10 heads of state and government, 115 Ministers and Vice-Ministers, and numerous representatives from governments, the private sector, civil society, research institutions, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and other key stakeholders.
The 2025 Forum carries special significance as it coincides with the 80th anniversary of FAO, celebrating eight decades of global leadership in fighting hunger and advancing food security, nutrition, sustainable agriculture, and rural development.
A Global Call for Transformation
Opening the week-long event, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu reflected on the Organization’s enduring mission, describing food as a source of life, culture, and dignity.
“For eight decades, FAO has worked side by side with nations, farmers, youth, women, Indigenous Peoples, scientists, and entrepreneurs all united by one belief: that food can be the foundation of peace, dignity, and shared prosperity,” Qu said.
He reminded participants that 673 million people, or 8.2 percent of the world’s population, still face hunger, while 2.3 billion experience food insecurity, and 2.6 billion cannot afford a healthy diet.
Although these figures mark progress from FAO’s early years, when two-thirds of the world’s 2.3 billion people were undernourished, Qu underscored that climate shocks, conflict, and biodiversity loss continue to threaten food systems.
“Transforming agrifood systems is like creating a mosaic,” he added. “It takes many pieces, many colours, many hands, and a lot of creativity and imagination. Once put together, you can see the full vision and bring it to life.”
Leadership Voices from Across the Globe
Following Qu’s remarks, King Letsie III of Lesotho, FAO’s Special Ambassador for Nutrition, called for greater political will and sustained investment in food systems.
He argued that transformation, though initially costly, yields long-term rewards including lower import bills, new youth employment opportunities, and stronger resilience to climate shocks.
“No country can achieve this alone,” King Letsie said. “Governments must lead with enabling policies and targeted investments in infrastructure, innovation, and rural development.”
In his keynote address, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva emphasized that eradicating hunger requires both determination and fairness in global governance. While the world produces enough food for everyone, he noted, persistent inequality prevents millions from accessing it.
“We must include the poor in the budget,” Lula declared. “Ending hunger must be a state policy, not something that rises and falls with economic cycles.”
Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of the interim Government of Bangladesh, described hunger as a moral failure rather than a problem of scarcity. He called for the creation of social business models that empower farmers, rural women, and youth to build self-sustaining livelihoods.
“With the right support, young people should not be job seekers but job creators,” Yunus said. “Investing in agrotechnology and innovation can not only feed the world but also transform it.”
A Vision for FAO’s Next Chapter
As FAO celebrates 80 years since its founding, the World Food Forum 2025 serves as both a reflection on progress and a rallying point for collective action.
Throughout the week, participants are set to engage in high-level dialogues, innovation challenges, and cultural showcases highlighting the power of youth, technology, and partnerships in shaping sustainable food systems.
The Forum underscores FAO’s central message: achieving global food security demands cooperation across generations, sectors, and continents.
“Food is life,” Qu Dongyu reminded attendees. “And only by working hand in hand can we create a better food future for all.”
