The 5th Global Conference of the One Planet Network’s Sustainable Food Systems Programme, held from 27–29 May 2025 in Brasília, convened several delegates from around the world to advance the integration of sustainable food systems into global climate, biodiversity, nutrition, and development agendas. Themed “Overcoming the Barriers to Food Systems Transformation”, the summit brought together negotiators, policymakers, scientists, and civil society leaders to catalyze systems-based, equity-sensitive solutions.
Representing the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI) and ACE4ES Africa Consortium, Dr. Kwaku Onwona-Hwesofour Asante participated in the high-level sessions and technical dialogues to advance Africa’s voice in sustainable food systems governance.
Key Takeaways from the Conference
1. Food Systems at the Core of Planetary Challenges
Participants reinforced that current food systems contribute significantly to global environmental crises—accounting for over one-third of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and nearly 80% of biodiversity loss. Integrated, nature-positive food system approaches are critical to achieving the Paris Agreement, SDGs, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Read Also: COCOBOD Settles Outstanding Non-DDEP Cocoa Bill Obligations
2. Policy Coherence is Non-Negotiable
The conference emphasized the urgent need for policy coherence—ensuring that agricultural, trade, climate, health, and biodiversity policies are mutually reinforcing rather than contradictory. Misalignments, such as agricultural subsidies undermining sustainability or trade policies enabling unhealthy food imports, were highlighted as barriers to transformation.
Dr. Asante underscored the ACE4ES Africa Consortium’s work in Ghana, Benin, Nigeria and Tanzania, to demonstrate field-level agroecological and circular economy practices that can inform more coherent national and regional food-climate policies.
3. Political Economy Shapes Food System Trajectories
A recurring theme was the influence of power dynamics, corporate lobbying, and institutional lock-ins that maintain unsustainable trajectories. Speakers called for structural reforms, including the redistribution of decision-making power and greater inclusivity in food governance.
Dr. Asante contributed to discussions on multistakeholder engagement, emphasizing the importance of including farmer organizations, youth, and indigenous communities in national planning processes—an approach central to the ACE4ES model. He also highlighted the operationalization of food systems through the agroecology and circular economy initiative being led by CSIR-Crop Research Institute in Ghana aimed at reducing super pollutants in agriculture and waste sector in Africa.
4. Building Accountability and Raising Ambition
The need for robust accountability frameworks, harmonized indicators, and integrated data systems to track food system transformation was stressed. Panelists also highlighted the need to raise ambition ahead of COP30, especially by integrating food systems into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).
Dr. Asante met with Ana Toni, CEO of COP30, who during her panel discussions session reiterated the relevance of the COP28 Emirates Declaration, signed by 159 countries, which includes a commitment to climate-resilient, equitable food systems by 2030, backed by $2.6 billion in pledges. http://dailydemocratnewsonline.com
5. Africa’s Priorities in Focus
Throughout the summit, special attention was given to:
Reducing emissions in rice systems through innovation and partnerships
Scaling up neglected and traditional crops for dietary resilience
Strengthening South-South-North cooperation for knowledge and resource sharing
Mobilizing climate finance to support sustainable food systems in developing countries
Dr. Asante reinforced ACE4ES Africa’s commitment to piloting scalable, evidence-based practices and policies that align with national priorities and the global climate agenda.
About ACE4ES Africa
The Agroecology and Circular Economy for Ecosystem Services (ACE4ES) Africa Consortium is a regional initiative advancing integrated, low-emission, and biodiversity-supporting agricultural solutions in semi-arid and savannah ecologies. Hosted by CSIR-Crops Research Institute in Ghana, ACE4ES works with institutions in Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Cote D’Ivoire, Tanzania, and beyond to implement agroecology living labs, train youth, and inform climate-smart policy.
Story by:
The Voice of African Farmers
