Committee on World Food Security

The Committee for World Food Security (CFS) is the United Nations’ forum for reviewing and following up on policies concerning world food security. It also examines issues which affect the world food situation. It was established as a result of the food crisis of the 1970s, upon recommendation from the 1974 World Food Conference.

“Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. It is estimated that more than a billion people, one in every six human beings, may be suffering from under-nourishment.” (FAO)

The rise in food prices in 2007-08, followed by the financial and economic crisis in 2009, has heightened awareness on poverty and hunger issues around the world. Under these pressures, the CFS was reformed in 2008 to become the most inclusive international and intergovernmental platform for all stakeholders to work together to ensure food security and nutrition for all. The CFS Advisory Group was created to hold permanent seats for civil society, the research community and the private sector. For more information on CFS visit here.

The International Agri-Food Network is currently working on:

• 2024 Inequalities in Food Systems

  Background The process to develop Policy Recommendations on Reducing Inequalities for Food Security and Nutrition started at CFS 51 with a presentation of the main findings of the HLPE Report on “Reducing inequalities for food […]

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• 2024 Urban & Peri-Urban

  Background During its 50th plenary session (10-13 October 2022), the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) included a request to the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and […]

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• Women’s Empowerment

  Background Despite assuming significant roles and responsibilities, in food systems, women continue to face a systemic disadvantage in accessing productive resources, services, and information (GEWE Scoping Paper, 2020). Meeting SDG2 (Zero […]

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• Nutrition

  CFS Workstream on Nutrition 2021 2020 2019 2018 The UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS) selected nutrition as one of its key workstreams for 2016–2018. Nutrition will continue to […]

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• Food Systems Summit

  Background The United Nations Food Systems Summit was held on 23 – 24 September 2021 during the United Nations General Assembly High Level Week. The Summit heard from over 150 Member States, […]

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• MYPoW

  Background The CFS Multi-Year Programme of Work (MYPoW) 2024-2027 – endorsed at CFS 51 in October 2023 – includes a workstream that focuses on the promotion of actions to increase […]

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• Youth in Agriculture

  Background Agriculture plays a significant role in achieving global food and nutrition security, increasing economic growth, and attaining environmental sustainability. Representing close to 40% of the global workforce, agriculture is […]

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• Additional Topics of Interest

  Additional Topics of Interest

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