The United Nations announced an initiative this week to expedite the transformation of global food systems and re-establish the SDGs.
According to Amina J Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, changing our food systems must be a priority as the world battles to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.
According to the UN, over half of the SDGs are “moderately or severely off track,” with 37% of objectives showing no progress.
“Transforming our food systems is one key to getting the world back on track and reversing these worrying trends,” Mohamed said at the United Nations Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment in Rome.
The UN recognized access to capital for changing food systems as the “single most urgent need,” and Mohammed stated that the establishment of the Food Systems Window investment plan will assist address the shortage of resources and “turn the situation around.”
According to her, the new project will “catalyse the rapid and systemic action required for food system transformation under the UN Food Systems Hub.”
Mohammed also discussed the role of space technology in the transformation of agrifood systems. “If we can effectively harness its potential,” she says, “space technology could become among the most significant new technologies for agricultural and agri-food systems, ultimately leading to more sustainable, resilient, and efficient agri-food systems.”
According to the UN, space technology can assist raise sustainability, increase farmer yields, reduce fertilizer, fuel, and pesticide costs, preserve land from erosion, and improve soil quality.