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:

• Agroecology

  The policy convergence process for the CFS workstream on Agroecology and other innovative approaches started at CFS 46 Plenary Session on 16 October 2019. This session was based on the […]

  Read More

• Food Systems Summit

  Food Systems Summit In 2021, UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, will convene a Food Systems Summit as part of the decade of action to deliver the SDGs by 2030. Dr. […]

  Read More

• Forestry

  HLPE Report on Forestry for Food Security and Nutrition & Policy Convergence Process In 2017, The High-Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) prepared a draft report on the topic of “forestry […]

  Read More

• Livestock

  The Partnership Forum on Livestock took place on June 30, 2016 at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Rome, Italy. The event was framed in the context of […]

  Read More

• MYPoW

  The Open Ended Working Group on CFS Multi-Year Programme of Work (MYPoW) will continue its work in 2018-2019 to prepare the MYPoW for 2020-2022 on the basis of the revised […]

  Read More

• 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 […]

  Read More

• Responsible Agricultural Investment

  Responsible Agricultural Investment The CFS Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (RAI) were approved by the 41st Session of CFS on 15 October 2014. The Principles offer important guidance to companies […]

  Read More

• Smallholder Investing

  Connecting Smallholders to Markets Private sector actors are key partners in enabling smallholder farmers to achieve better market access. This includes producers, processors and retailers, right the way across the […]

  Read More

• The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  Throughout the Sustainable Development Goals process, the International Agri-Food Network has been engaged in the negotiations. As part of the Global Business Alliance, we have placed a priority on the […]

  Read More

• Urbanization

  CFS Intersessional Events on Urbanization and Rural Transformation 2018/19 In the 2018-19 biennium, CFS is holding two intersessional events on the topic of Urbanization and Rural Transformation.  November 19, 2018: […]

  Read More

• Water

  The CFS commissioned the High-Level Panel of Experts to issue a report on “Water for Food Security and Nutrition” for 2015. The PSM contributed actively in the consultations and in the development […]

  Read More

• Women’s Empowerment

  Women’s Empowerment in the Context of Food security and Nutrition Despite assuming significant roles and responsibilities, in food systems, women continue to face a systemic disadvantage in accessing productive resources, […]

  Read More

• 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 […]

  Read More