Every day, thousands of workers across Pakistan’s Hattar Industrial Estate (HIE) clock into jobs that power the country’s manufacturing sector. From ceramics and textiles to printing, chemicals, and food production, these industries depend on a steady, skilled workforce. Yet, behind the manufacturing lines are workers whose nutritional needs are often overlooked. Improving workforce health and productivity can yield broader economic dividends by reducing absenteeism, improving industrial output, and lowering healthcare costs associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Four years after the landmark 2021 United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS), the urgency of transforming food systems is growing. With just five years left until the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) deadline, momentum is growing, but so are the challenges. The UNFSS+4 Stocktake, held in July 2025, reflects a remarkable evolution in how countries and partners are reimagining food systems to be more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient. Since the first Stocktake (UNFSS+2), countries have moved from vision to action: 128 nations now have national food systems pathways, 155 have appointed National Convenors, and 39 have revised their pathways into detailed action plans. Voluntary reporting has increased, signalling strong political commitment.
In the quiet riverine village of Khedabagh, nestled within Lalmonirhat Sadar in northern Bangladesh, every morning begins with the sound of boats on the Teesta River and the determined footsteps of a young boy named Minhajul Islam Bappi, making a difference in the lives of young girls and boys in his village.
Food system transformation (FST) is fundamental to human progress. Feeding and nourishing the world. Creating jobs and reducing poverty. Managing the environment. Avoiding catastrophic climate change. Building resilience to shocks. These are the building blocks of human and planetary wellbeing.
Breastfeeding not only contributes to positive nutrition and health outcomes, but also to environmental sustainability by significantly reducing the environmental footprint associated with the production, packaging, distribution and consumption of infant formula. The environmental benefits of breastfeeding are multi-faceted.
Food system transformation is reshaping how food is produced, processed, distributed, and consumed to create a more sustainable, fair, and healthy system. It demands a deep, collective effort involving multiple layers of society - farmers, policymakers, businesses, consumers, and more. But changing such a complex system isn’t just about policies or farming techniques. It’s about changing hearts and minds too. This is where media and journalists have a fundamental role.
GAIN Kenya is proud to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UNICEF Kenya to strengthen efforts to improve access to nutritious, safe, and sustainable foods for the most vulnerable. This strategic partnership underscores a shared commitment to addressing malnutrition and shaping healthier food environments for children, adolescents, and families in Kenya. The MOU was officially signed on 24th June 2025.
On 27 May 2025, the second episode of Bincang Pangan Sehat Lestari (Talk Series on Sustainable and healthy diets) brought together experts, policy makers, practitioners, and development partners to discuss the environmental perspectives on Indonesia’s school meal program (MBG). The seminar saw active participation, with attendees engaging in panel discussions. Over 30 Participants attended the seminar in person, and over 500 participants from sub national food agencies and NGOs attended it online.
The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (FAO, 2024) highlights the dire state of hunger in Ethiopia – 59% facing moderate or severe food insecurity from 2021 to 2023. Young women are particularly vulnerable, Ethiopia’s National Food and Nutrition Strategy Baseline Survey (EPHI, 2023) states that 15% and 22% of women of reproductive age are underweight, in urban and rural settings respectively. The same report notes that only 7% meet minimum dietary diversity standards - as a result, 66% have some form of micronutrient deficiency.
In April 2025, we took part in the Act4Food Youth Leaders Workshop held in Arusha, Tanzania, a truly transformative experience that deepened our already strong convictions of the power and potential of young people to shape the future of our food systems. Organized by ACT4FOOD with support from the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), the workshop brought together 22 youth leaders from across the globe working under the ACT4FOOD banner, along with GAIN staff and additional food systems youth leaders from Tanzania.
