Convened by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) at its headquarters in Rome and coinciding with World Food Day, the event was held under the theme “Innovate today, Nourish tomorrow,” bringing together government representatives, researchers, producers, investors, youth, and indigenous communities from all regions.

The FAO linked transforming agrifood systems to food security and rural development. FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu repeatedly stated at the WFF that the backdrop is alarming: about 673 million people face hunger worldwide, and around 2.6 billion still cannot afford a healthy diet.

Extreme weather events, pressure on biodiversity, climate change, wars, and inequalities that hinder access to food is added to that reality.

Among the event’s key outcomes was the presentation of agrifood investment opportunities totaling a record 20.16 billion dollars, proposed by 38 countries and five regional initiatives as part of the “Hand-in-Hand” Initiative Investment Forum.

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