Global and National Leaders Gather in New Delhi for Global Food Security Summit to Drive Progress on Food Security Ahead of G20 Summit

Held in New Delhi on 8th August 2023, the Global Food Security Summit witnessed participation from the government, think tanks, industry, High Commissions, and Bilateral and Multilateral organisations.

 The Global Food Security Summit convened global and national leaders in New Delhi, India, ahead of the G20 Leaders’ Summit to draw attention to rising levels of food and nutrition insecurity, and food loss and waste.

The two-day event under the aegis of the G20, hosted by The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) and Thinkthrough Consulting (TTC), saw attendance from multiple stakeholders with the aim of establishing a distinct platform that seeks to utilize both local and global partnerships to expedite the achievement of food security goals within the G20 countries. Day one of the two-day summit saw participation from government officials, policy and industry think tanks, corporate houses, High Commissions from the G20 Nations, Bilateral and Multilateral organisations.

Speaking to the delegates, Lisa Moon, President and CEO of The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) said,“One of the largest challenges in the world today is food security. About 2.3 billion people in the world today are food insecure, and about 3 billion cannot afford a nutritious diet. Food banking provides solutions to both these problems. Food banks work with local social enterprises and nonprofits, as well as suppliers across the supply chain to get food to those who need it.”

The Summit has been organised amid a global food crisis that has been further exacerbated by conflict, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic. This has led to a rapid rise in the cost of food and fertilizer, putting immense pressure on vulnerable and low-income communities. The event, which complements the official G20 Summit agenda to ensure food security and achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal to end hunger by 2030, put the spotlight on food banks as a powerful and overlooked solution to hunger and food insecurity.

“Food waste is a global challenge that require collective efforts from all stakeholders,” said Parul Soni, Global Managing Partner, Thinkthrough Consulting, “We want to work with the producers of food - farmers, corporates, FMCG companies - to get surplus food to foodbanks and process it to reach underprivileged. Through this Summit, we aim to promote food security and mitigate climate change through the concept of food banking.”

The discussions at the Summit drove awareness on how food banks help to reduce food loss and waste, strengthen food security, and foster community resilience. Discussing the importance of food banking is even more essential at this time when India is leading the G20 Summit. Prioritising food security is one of India’s main agendas, while food security is also a crucial issue of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.