As agrifood systems come under increasing pressure from climate change, market volatility and persistent inequalities, global stakeholders are aligning efforts to drive systemic change. The UN Food Systems Summit +4 Stocktaking Moment served as a platform to evaluate progress since 2021 and to renew collective commitment toward inclusive, sustainable and technology-driven food systems.
Hosted in Addis Ababa and co-led by the Governments of Ethiopia and Italy, the event brought together world leaders, ministers and delegates from across the globe to assess progress and identify areas needing stronger focus. The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, emphasized that agrifood systems are not just about agriculture. They sit at the intersection of food security, climate resilience, environmental stewardship and equitable growth.
Qu’s call to action focused on three pillars of transformation: youth empowerment, innovation and technology and human rights. These focus areas hold significant promise for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) that are already playing a critical role in agrifood chains but often face barriers to scaling and sustainability.
Unlocking the Power of Youth and Innovation
One of the clearest takeaways from the Summit was the urgent need to invest in young people. Drawing on insights from FAO’s global assessment on Youth in Agrifood Systems, Qu outlined how closing gaps in education, employment and leadership for young people, especially young women, could boost global GDP by as much as $1.5 trillion. Importantly, nearly half of that could come directly from improvements in agrifood systems.
For entrepreneurs, this emphasis signals a wider opening for youth-led agribusinesses to access targeted support, training and funding. By positioning young people at the center of food system transformation, the FAO and its partners are helping to reframe agriculture from subsistence to innovation. Initiatives that integrate youth into production, marketing and value addition are critical for long-term economic inclusion, especially in rural areas where formal employment remains scarce.
Scaling innovation and technology also stood out as a fundamental lever for transformation. Through tools like the FAO-led Agrifood Systems Technologies and Innovations Outlook (ATIO), countries are being supported to identify and adopt new approaches, including digital agriculture, artificial intelligence and precision farming. These innovations offer MSMEs and startups the potential to increase productivity, reduce waste and respond more dynamically to consumer demand.
The World Food Forum, with its three interconnected pillars, Hand-in-Hand Investment, Science and Innovation and Youth and Women’s Empowerment, was highlighted as a key platform for mobilizing partnerships and resources. For smaller entrepreneurs who often lack access to traditional markets or capital, this creates new opportunities to engage in collaborative ecosystems that prioritize sustainability and inclusive growth.
Smart Investment and Inclusive Growth
The growing momentum behind FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative further reinforces the push toward more equitable food systems. By using geospatial targeting and data analytics to guide investment decisions, the initiative ensures that funding reaches communities where it is most needed. Between 2022 and 2024, the initiative grew from $1.5 billion to $4.5 billion, reflecting the rising interest from both country governments and donors in scaling practical solutions.
For business owners operating in agriculture or food-related services, this kind of data-informed approach means more relevant support, clearer market insights and increased efficiency in how assistance is delivered. As agrifood systems evolve, entrepreneurs who can align with these national and international priorities stand to benefit from improved infrastructure, financing options and policy support.
Grounding these transformation efforts in the Right to Food was another major point raised by the FAO Director-General. This principle ensures that transparency, accountability and inclusion remain central to how food systems are reshaped. FAO’s role in hosting the support mechanism for the newly launched Global Alliance Against Poverty and Hunger reinforces this commitment. Backed by the G20 under Brazil’s presidency, the Alliance provides coordinated technical and financial support that aligns with national strategies and local needs.
More than 120 countries are already receiving tailored assistance through FAO’s integrated solutions. Flagship initiatives like One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) and Digital Villages are helping smallholders improve access to markets, enhance productivity and achieve better income outcomes. These programs are particularly relevant to small-scale entrepreneurs who rely on local networks and struggle with infrastructure or knowledge gaps.
The Stocktaking Moment did more than review past progress. It made clear that transformation is already underway. The challenge now is to accelerate that momentum by creating the right environment for MSMEs and entrepreneurs to thrive. This includes not just policy reform and technical support but also active collaboration between governments, private sector players, research institutions and civil society.
The future of agrifood systems is not being decided in boardrooms or laboratories alone. It is being shaped by the entrepreneurs building food cooperatives, innovating post-harvest solutions, digitizing supply chains and training the next generation of farmers and food leaders. Supporting them is not a side initiative but a central strategy for creating resilient economies and healthier societies.
As countries move from strategy to implementation, there is now a stronger focus on practical, scalable solutions that can be localized and adapted. Entrepreneurs in agrifood spaces, whether in processing, logistics, input supply or marketing, must continue to stay agile, learn from global best practices and position themselves within evolving national strategies.
What was made clear in Addis Ababa is that agrifood transformation is not just possible. It is already happening. The question now is how quickly and inclusively that transformation can be scaled for the benefit of people, planet and prosperity.
