Summary of the Statement:

Submitted under Agenda Item 4, titled “The Right to Food: A Crisis of Financial Justice and Development Commitment Led by the UAE.” It addresses the global food security crisis and highlights the UAE’s initiatives as a pioneering model linking sustainable financing to the right to food.

Content of the Statement:

• Based on The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025 report, which revealed:
  • 2.3 billion people (29% of the world’s population) face food insecurity.
  • 735–783 million people suffer chronic hunger (1 in 10 people).
  • 3.1 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet.
  • One-third of global food (1.3 billion tons annually) is wasted or lost.
• Highlighted interlinked crisis factors: conflicts (Gaza, Sudan, Yemen), economic crises, debt, and climate change.
• Stated that addressing the crisis requires USD 680 billion annually in additional investments.
• Showcased the UAE model through major initiatives:
  1. “1 Billion Meals Endowment” Initiative (2023): Sustainable endowment worth AED 1 billion to distribute food globally with UN agencies.
  2. Alterra Climate Fund: The world’s largest climate investment commitment worth USD 30 billion, focusing on food security in the Global South.
  3. Emergency Food Aid: Urgent shipments to Gaza, Sudan, Yemen, and Afghanistan.
  4. Smart Agriculture: Support for vertical farming, hydroponics, and water management projects.
  5. Women and Youth Empowerment: Financing small projects and vocational training to strengthen roles in food systems.
• Recommendations included:
  • Recognizing the right to food as a fundamental right linked to dignity and the right to life.
  • Redirecting global financing towards fair food systems through endowment funds and green bonds.
  • Enhancing access to finance and markets for small farmers and women.
  • Adopting the UAE model as a rights-based investment approach.
  • Creating a mandate for a Special Rapporteur on “The Right to Food in the Context of Climate and Conflict Crises.”

Importance of the Statement:

• Reframes the food crisis as an issue of financial justice and human rights, not just production or distribution.
• Positions the UAE as a key actor in sustainable food financing, linking humanitarian aid to long-term investment.
• Highlights innovative tools (endowments, climate funds, agri-tech) as practical solutions.
• Proposes a new UN mechanism (Special Rapporteur), reflecting international recognition of the climate–food nexus.
• Reinforces the UAE’s image as a strategic partner in building just and sustainable global food systems.