Zhu Juwang, an official of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, highlighted the seriousness of the global food crisis and coping approach to it at the 4th World Shiology Forum

On October 10, 2023, the 4th World Shiology Forum kicked off in Haikou, where representatives from all walks of life gathered to discuss the challenges faced by human beings in the process of food acquisition and utilization, and seek practical and holistic solutions. At the opening ceremony, Zhu Juwang, Director of the Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government and United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, delivered an important video speech, profoundly explaining the seriousness and urgency of the current global food crisis.

Zhu Juwang first expressed warm congratulations on the opening of this forum, pointing out that the world is facing a severe food crisis. Globally, Around the world, 780 million people are going hungry and more than three billion cannot afford healthy diets. Meanwhile, one-third of all food produced is lost or wasted. Unsustainable food production, packaging and transportation are feeding the climate crisis – generating colossal greenhouse gas emissions, using over two-thirds of the world’s freshwater, and accelerating biodiversity loss.

Zhu Juwang also mentioned China’s successful experience. China has solved the problem of "not enough to eat" for 1.4 billion people in the past few decades, while also promoting the "Healthy China" initiative. These exciting achievements provide important insights into the serious challenges the world faces in ensuring food security and public health.

As highlighted by the UN Secretary-General at the UN Food Systems Summit + 2 Stocktaking Moment this past July, our global food systems are broken. Zhu Juwang pointed out that in order to rescue this broken global food system, we need to take three important actions: first, we need a massive investment in sustainable, equitable, healthy, and resilient food systems; Second, governments and businesses must work together to build systems that put people over profit. Third, we must put in place food systems that can help end the senseless destruction of our planet and that can contribute to climate action.

The speech by Zhu Juwang triggered a wide range of discussions among the participants, and also provided an important reference for the discussion of this forum. The 4th World Shiology Forum will promote the continuous cooperation of all sectors of the world to improve food safety, promote sustainable agriculture, enhance global nutrition and public health, and jointly address the global food crisis by promoting the establishment of Shiology framework standards, and contribute to the sustainable change of the global food system.

The speech original (English):

Dear participants,

I am honored to share warm greetings with all participants on the occasion of the 4th World Shiology Forum. Our deep appreciation goes to the Hainan Provincial Government for hosting this forum. Allow me to commend Mr. Liu Guangwei for his leadership in advancing the shiology theory and practice. Our thanks also go to Mr. Liu Zhenmin and Mr. Sun Xiansheng for their commitment to advancing international partnerships for food security based on the shiology framework.

In deed, this is a timely discussion about food system, public health, and sustainable development. At the time when the overall implementation of 2030 Agenda and progress towards the SDGs are seriously off-track, the forum focus on linkages and integration between food security, sustainable agriculture, and public health, promises to open up new thinking and new policy measures in these vital areas.

It is fitting that this forum is taking place in China. Over the past few decades, China has solved the problem of feeding its 1.4 billion people, while also advancing the healthy China initiative. These inspiring achievements offer important lessons for the world facing grim challenges in ensuring food security and public health.

As the Secretary-General highlighted at the UN Food Systems Summit + 2 Stocktaking Moment this past July, our global food systems are broken. Today more than 780 million people are going hungry, while nearly one-third of all food produced is lost or wasted. More than 3 billion cannot afford healthy diets, and two billion people are overweight or obese. At the same time, 462 million are underweight, meanwhile unsustainable food production, packaging, and consumption are feeding the climate crisis, generating one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions, using 70% of the world's freshwater, and driving biodiversity loss on an epic scale.

The UN Secretary-General has called for coordinated efforts to rescue this broken global food system. Let me use today's occasion to share with you three actions put forward by the Secretary-General this past July. First, we need a massive investment in sustainable, equitable, healthy, and resilient food systems. Second, governments and businesses must work together to build systems that put people first, that put people over profit. And third, we must put in place food systems that can help end the senseless destruction of our planet and that can contribute to climate action.

We look forward to this forum's discussion on these crucial issues and to your ideas and recommendations. Likewise, we look forward to our continued collaboration in advancing food security, sustainable agriculture, improved nutrition, and public health, including through the implementation of the shiology framework.

We wish you a fruitful discussion. Thank you.