Kenyan President Emphasizes Urgency of Ending Hunger at World Without Hunger Conference.

Addis Ababa: Kenya’s President William Ruto, at the World Without Hunger Conference in Addis Ababa, emphasized the urgent need to end hunger and ensure food security. He highlighted the interconnected crises of inequality, poverty, conflict, and climate change as intensifying factors that make addressing global hunger a critical challenge of our time.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, hunger is not simply a matter of missed nourishment but a tragic force that deteriorates health, diminishes productivity, erodes future opportunities, and threatens the fundamental human promises of freedom and well-being. Ruto called on global leaders and institutions to maximize the potential of agricultural and food systems to nourish the world’s population urgently.

Noting that one-third of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted, particularly in the post-harvest stage, the president said it is a stark reminder of the inefficiencies that must be addressed to meet the Sustainable Development Goal of zero
hunger. The alarming state of global food security shows we are far off track, he underscored.

Thus, Ruto stated that: ‘Without a radical strategic shift, we risk failing in our commitment to end hunger by 2030.’ He further emphasized that the solution lies in bold, collective actions to tackle the root causes of hunger, urging investment in agricultural communities, sustainable production practices, and resilient food systems.

The President underscored the importance of agricultural education, highlighting that training farmers to be innovative, efficient, and adaptable is essential to counter the impacts of climate change. With erratic weather disrupting food production, he called for unified climate action, emphasizing that building climate resilience is integral to securing food security. He also outlined Kenya’s ongoing initiatives to combat hunger and strengthen food security, pointing to specific policies and programs his government is implementing.

The World Without Hunger Conference, themed ‘A Wor
ld Without Hunger is Possible,’ brought together over 1,500 key stakeholders-including heads of state, government officials, UN agencies, private sector representatives, and civil society leaders-to address one of humanity’s most pressing challenges. The event, organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the Ethiopian government, with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), features solution-focused sessions, an investment forum, and a high-level political forum to foster coordinated, impactful action toward a hunger-free world.