Selected Speaking Engagements

Conflict-Related Food Insecurity: Addressing Food Insecurity as a Driver of Conflict and Ensuring Food Security for Sustainable Peace
(United Nations Security Council, 10045th meeting)
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, first developed by FAO in Somalia in 2004, has become the global standard for analyzing food security and nutrition in emergencies. In both Sudan and Gaza, the IPC had already issued early warning signals, calling for immediate action. It is a lifeline for the millions of people living on the frontlines of conflict and hunger.

Foods Futures: Conversations for a Better World
(Inspired by FAO’s Four Betters on the Organization’s 80th Anniversary, World Food Day 2025)
Today, 2.6 billion people still cannot afford a healthy diet. Addressing this means repurposing agricultural support, promoting dietary diversity through innovation and trade, and cutting food loss and waste. FAO’s True Cost Accounting work reveals $12 trillion in hidden health, environmental, and social costs embedded in agri-food systems. Tackling these systemic challenges is key to realizing the Right to Food.

Addressing High Food Price Inflation for Food Security and Nutrition
(The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025 Launch)
A decade after countries pledged to end hunger by 2030, this year’s report shows the world far off track. Projections indicate that 512 million people could still be undernourished by the end of the decade, with Africa shouldering the greatest burden. Food inflation is a major driver, as it pushes healthy diets out of reach for low-income families. We know how to end hunger; the question is whether we will.

Launch of the Financing for Shock-Driven Food Crisis Facility
Preventing food crises before they escalate represents a major shift from reactive aid to anticipatory action and financing. The Financing for Shock-Driven Food Crisis Facility integrates rapid-response financing, blended public-private funding, and tracks up to 12 hazard types in real time. By complementing existing crisis response tools, the FSFC aims to boost global food systems resilience.

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World Explained
(Future Fork with Paul Newnham)
Elections have been won or lost over food prices. For poor families who spend most of their income on food, rising prices can mean not getting enough to eat. This year’s SOFI report shows that while global hunger declined slightly, it rose in Africa. This is a pivotal moment for the continent to reverse the trend by prioritizing and implementing proven policies.

Speaking Engagements in 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2011-2019