Calling for Transformative Change in Food Systems at the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

This July, Shumei International was among more than 2400 civil society members and 70 government ministers gathered at the UN Headquarters in New York City for the High Level Political Forum (HLPF). The HLPF is the preeminent space within the UN, which brings government leaders and all sectors of society together to address the progress and challenges towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

The theme of this year´s High Level Political Forum was “Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world” with an emphasis on reviewing seven specific global goals:

As an advocate for sustainable lifestyles in harmony with nature, Shumei International was particularly focused on Goal 2 that covers hunger, food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture. Food is essential to human life and is a cross-cutting issue that affects all the other goals.  As a member of the Food and Agriculture Cluster of the NGO Major Group at the UN, Shumei worked with its partners to raise awareness about how a regenerative and agro-ecological approach to agriculture could not only mitigate hunger and achieve global food security, but also eradicate poverty and reverse the effects of climate change. During the HLPF, civil society advocated for a transformative change of the current food system to meet the goals and create a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient future for humanity and the planet.