Youth‑Driven Food Diplomacy Takes Center Stage at African Summit in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – July 28, 2025 – The United Nations Food Systems Summit +4 Stocktake, held on July 27–29, opened in Addis Ababa with an urgent appeal for transformative, locally led action on Africa’s food security challenges. Co-hosted by the governments of Ethiopia and Italy, the summit brought together heads of state, youth leaders, farmers, scientists, and civil society to assess progress since the inaugural 2021 event and chart pathways toward resilient, inclusive food systems across the continent.

A key message came from AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa), urging global partners to invest in country-led, youth-focused strategies and to support innovative financing models tailored to African contexts. Hailemariam Dessalegn, AGRA’s board chair and former Ethiopian prime minister, highlighted that solutions must be rooted in local ownership and national priorities to be sustainable.

Addressing delegates via video link, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that “hunger must never be a weapon of war,” while spotlighting the perilous rise of food insecurity—affecting more than 280 million people in Africa, with nearly 3.4 million facing famine conditions. He warned of climate shocks and conflict undermining global food systems and called for food to be recognized as a cornerstone of peace and human dignity.