The 2025 edition of the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report launched today in Addis Ababa, on the sidelines of the UN Food Systems Summit +4 Stocktake.
President of Ethiopia, Taye Atske Selassie, who addressed the launch event, said the report helps to inform policies to bring forth quick gains and also long-term solutions.
The high-level event brought together global leaders, policymakers, and development partners to examine the latest trends in food security, nutrition, and the cost of healthy diets worldwide.
The SOFI report is a joint initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO).
It offers new estimates on the cost and affordability of healthy diets and assesses the progress — or setbacks — toward Sustainable Development Goal targets 2.1 and 2.2: ending hunger, food insecurity, and all forms of malnutrition by 2030.
This year’s edition places special emphasis on the global impact of rising food prices, shedding light on how elevated inflation has eroded purchasing power, particularly among low-income populations, thus limiting access to healthy diets.
The report analyzes the drivers of recent food inflation and outlines key policy responses to mitigate its negative effects.
President Taye said the report helps to inform policies to bring forth quick gains and also long-term solutions. “The data provided are a sobering call to all of us, and clearly show the gravity of this food security crisis and the immense challenge that lies before us.”
Moreover, he elaborated that the report focuses on food price, the progressive impact of inflation and indeed a demand for collective and decisive action.
Therefore, the president emphasized the need for coordinated and sustainable efforts at national, regional, and global levels to address food security challenges and promote access to adequate nutrition for all.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, underscored the urgency of coordinated global action.
Since 2020, global food price inflation has consistently outpaced general inflation in low-income countries, she stated.
“This means skipping meals, selling assets, or putting children out of school just so families can afford to eat in every region. These overlapping crises, conflict, climate shocks, inflation, and displacement are all exposing the deep fragility of our food systems.”
Therefore, the UN deputy chief underlined that cooperation must replace conflict, and we must transform systems that feed the world, urgently, systematically, and inclusively.
The UNFSS+4 Stocktake provides a critical opportunity to assess progress made since the 2021 Food Systems Summit and to accelerate action towards achieving the 2030 Agenda.
ENA news
