Global call to reform food systems opens ethical business opportunities

A global “peoples’” coalition is urging systemic reforms to create equitable, rights-based food systems, emphasizing the human right to adequate food and nutrition. Their demands challenge corporate dominance in food systems, calling on businesses and policymakers to address structural drivers of hunger, inequality and malnutrition. 

Underserved groups — including small-scale food producers, Indigenous peoples and food-insecure individuals — are at the heart of these demands. The coalition also condemns the “weaponization of food and starvation,” which exacerbates global nutrition crises.

The manifesto outlines their struggles toward food and nutrition security while identifying key areas of opportunity for businesses.

Nutrition security was signaled as a global priority at the latest G20 Summit. The WHO emphasizes that optimal nutrition is vital to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Ahead of the 2025 Nutrition for Growth Summit, international organizations are ramping up efforts targeting vulnerable groups, including children, women and climate-impacted communities.

Business opportunities in food systems transformation

The manifesto’s call to action highlights opportunities for businesses to align with equitable food system goals. 

Companies can contribute to climate-resilient food systems by promoting agroecology and sustainable practices, as well as meeting the manifesto’s call to phase out fossil-fuel-based inputs like pesticides. The manifesto underlines using Indigenous and traditional knowledge in food production.

The emphasis on territorial markets, which prioritizes local, healthful food production over export-driven models, also makes it possible for companies to make investments in public food reserves and local supply chains. 

Businesses have the chance to take the lead in fair trade, inclusive employment practices and community-driven innovations by tackling the structural injustices mentioned in the manifesto, such as gender inequality and the marginalization of small-scale food producers.

Companies can contribute to climate-resilient food systems by promoting agroecology and sustainable practices.These initiatives align with the manifesto’s goals and the demand from consumers worldwide for fair and sustainable food solutions.

Five demands 

The coalition first demands human rights-based decision-making and accountability, which includes hearing people’s voices and enabling their participation.

They also want governments to have criteria to prevent conflicts of interest, which prevent power asymmetries, especially in food systems. Third, the manifesto calls for regulation on “corporate influence” to safeguard against their interest in food systems.

Moreover, the “people” demand member state accountability and call on the UN to contribute to policy coherence for the right to adequate food and nutrition.

“To shift from treating food as a commodity to recognizing it as a human right… we call for the decolonization of food systems and political action of states,” reads the manifesto.

“End export-led policies and dependency on imports of food and agricultural input; prioritize healthy and diverse food production for domestic consumption instead of cash crops for exportation; ensure remunerative prices for small-scale food producers and build public food reserves.”

Grassroot efforts

Businesses can make investments in public food reserves and local supply chains.In line with the manifesto’s call for people-powered solutions, Nigeria’s VP Kashim Shettima launched Grand Challenges Nigeria to promote locally developed healthcare and nutrition solutions. Integrating initiatives like the Nutrition 774 program, this approach aims to ensure proper nutrition for every child and improve public health metrics.

Shettima says the initiative “is an avenue to promote groundbreaking research, build local expertise, form strategic partnerships and engage communities in co-creating culturally relevant solutions.” He also promises children access to proper nutrition.

Save the Children recently warned that an additional one million children in Nigeria are expected to suffer acute malnutrition by April 2025, as worsening floods, violence and food shortages deepen the hunger crisis.

Ongoing global conflicts 

The manifesto emphasizes the impact of conflicts on food security due to its weaponization.

According to the World Food Programme’s Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, 57% of South Sudan’s population will face acute food insecurity by 2025 due to war, economic pressures and climate extremes.

“The emergence of the economic crisis and associated high food prices as a key driver of food insecurity sends a powerful message that it is time to collectively increase our investment in supporting South Sudanese to produce their own food,” says Meshack Malo, South Sudan representative of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

In Gaza, UN experts warn of imminent famine risk, with the entire Strip at emergency levels of food insecurity, urging “immediate action, within days, not weeks,” to prevent the crisis.