On May 12–13, global leaders met in Bonn for the first Global Flagship Initiative meeting, aiming to tackle hunger through innovation and collaboration, with a focus on Africa.
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On May 12–13, global leaders and experts gathered in Bonn, Germany, for the inaugural stakeholder meeting of the Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security.
With an estimated 735 million people facing hunger worldwide, the urgency for science-based, sustainable solutions is clear. The Flagship Initiative aims to meet this challenge by mobilizing innovation, investment, and international collaboration — especially in Africa — to scale transformative approaches to food systems
The meeting convened high-level representatives from development banks, government agencies, the private sector, and multilateral organizations. Participants shared their organizations’ food security actions, followed by a series of strategic dialogues that shaped the initiative’s direction. Key themes included accelerating the adoption of sustainable agricultural innovations and aligning cross-sector efforts.
This five-year initiative focuses on identifying, scaling, and promoting cost-effective, science-driven solutions to strengthen food security and build resilient agri-food systems. A core priority is engaging the private sector to ensure that innovations are both scalable and commercially viable, according to a press release.
Open to all stakeholders aligned with SDG 2: Zero Hunger, the Flagship Initiative provides a platform for bold partnerships across governments, global institutions, investors, and businesses. By advancing innovation and deepening cooperation, it seeks to drive lasting change in regions hardest hit by food insecurity.
“Ensuring global food security requires an immense effort by many different actors. Conserving crop diversity is the foundation for resilient, productive and sustainable agri-food systems,” Dr. Stefan Schmitz, Executive Director of the Crop Trust, said. “Now, we need more collaboration and alignment to truly transform agriculture and secure the future of food. The Crop Trust is proud to support the first Flagship Initiative stakeholder meeting and help bring the right leaders together to accelerate this transformation.”
Launched during Agrifood Systems Day at COP16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the initiative is backed by a coalition that includes AGFUND, UNCCD, BADEA, the Islamic Development Bank, the OPEC Fund, the Crop Trust, and the Innovation Commission for Climate Change, Food Security, and Agriculture at the University of Chicago.
The Crop Trust, a global leader in safeguarding crop diversity, hosts the Flagship Initiative’s Secretariat at its headquarters in Bonn.
Amid growing pressures from climate change, conflict, and environmental degradation, the Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security stands as a critical tool for advancing real-world, collaborative, science-led solutions.
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