Ethiopia to Share Food Systems Transformation Successes at Upcoming UN Summit

​​​​​​Addis Ababa, July, 19, 2025 (ENA)— Ethiopia will showcase its achievements in food system transformation at the Second UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa from July 27–29, 2025, according to the Government Communication Service.

The summit organized by Ethiopia and Italy, in collaboration with United Nations, will provide a crucial platform for sharing practical successes in accelerating sustainable, inclusive, and resilient food systems.

The upcoming summit builds on previous engagements, including the pre-summit in New York, which focused on discussing opportunities, challenges, and future directions for food systems. That was followed by the first UN Food Systems Summit held in Rome in 2021.

Government Communication Service State Minister Tesfahun Gobezay told ENA that Ethiopia was selected to host the summit due to the tangible results it registered in ensuring food system transformation.

He emphasized the significant implications of Ethiopia's selection to host such a prestigious UN summit.

The summit is expected to draw high-level participation, including the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, heads of state, leaders of international organizations, research institutions, and key stakeholders in the food sector.

Tesfahun stated that discussions about how countries can collaborate to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on agricultural productivity will held at the summit.

He further stated that the summit will delve into the pressures exerted by international political, social, and economic crises on food systems. Countries are expected to collaborate and propose solutions that ensure healthy food to citizens.

The summit will also serve as a vital forum for Ethiopia to present its major initiatives in realizing food system transformation and to learn from the experiences of other nations, the state minister added.

Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency Director-General, Mandefro Nigussie, said that Ethiopia has made significant strides in implementing and achieving concrete results in accelerating food system transformation.

According to him, the government has prioritized financial and human resource development to ensure food sovereignty, emphasizing that these achievements are the result of coordinating the entire value chain, from farm to fork.

Mandefro pointed out Ethiopia's promising and visible successes in facilitating food system transformation through initiatives such as wheat development, the Green Legacy Initiative, and the "Yelemate Trufat" (Bounty of the Basket) initiative, among others.

Ethiopia's unique approach to guiding its food system transformation is a key reason for its selection as the host country for the summit, the director-general added.

Chief Coordinator of Ethiopia's Food System Transformation and Chief Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture, Getachew Diriba, recalled the time when Ethiopia heavily relied on wheat imports, which consumed significant foreign exchange.

In recent years, Ethiopia has transformed its narrative, achieved self-sufficiency in wheat, and is now transitioning into a wheat exporter by boosting agricultural production and productivity, he said.

Getachew further explained that during the three-day UN Food Systems Summit, participants will have the opportunity to visit and witness Ethiopia's effective efforts in enhancing production and productivity.