Kellogg hosts food security event during U.N. General Assembly

Facing new evidence from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UNFAO) that world hunger continues to rise, Kellogg Company, SDG2 Advocacy Hub and Food Reform for Sustainability and Health (FReSH) hosted a timely conversation on Transforming Food Systems to Drive Solutions for Achieving SDG2-Zero Hunger.

 

The event inspired a disruptive dialogue among seven leading experts and up-and-coming innovators on the critical need for global, cross-sector collaboration to achieve U.N. Sustainable Development Goal #2 – Zero Hunger (SDG2) by the 2030 target.

 

“As a leading global food company, Kellogg is using our size and reach to drive transformational change in addressing the worldwide issue of food security,” said Kellogg Company Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Steve Cahillane, who opened the event. “We know that no single company, government agency or organization can achieve the ambitious and essential SDGs alone, which is why we are excited to bring together this group of leaders and innovators who are driving needed change in our global food system for people and the planet.”

 

The event, held in Kellogg’s NYC Cafe, was moderated by international journalist Femi Oke. The first panel included leading global experts Gerda Verburg, Coordinator, Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement and U.N. Assistant Secretary-General; William Warshauer, CEO, TechnoServe; Jose Pedro Ferrão, International President, United Way; and Pierre Thiam, Co-Founder of Yolélé Foods and Chef and Co-Founder, Teranga Restaurant, in NYC.

 

The UNFAO has recognized the immediate need for “accelerated, scaled-up and multi-year partnerships to address increasing food security concerns.” Together, this panel of leaders agreed that change simply cannot happen if communities and organizations address this issue in silos.

 

The second panel − also moderated by Oke − featured entrepreneurs and innovators across sectors who are leading creative initiatives to address the escalating global challenges of malnutrition and sustainability, including Anahita Dhondy, Chef Partner of SodaBottleOpenerWala, Cyber Hub, Delhi, India; Jane Ko, Director, Global Category Innovation, Kellogg Company; and Lauren Bush Lauren, CEO of FEED.

 

During this discussion, Oke asked the panelists their perspectives on what is needed to effectively achieve zero hunger. They agreed that there is a need to continue to elevate the issue, demonstrate how people can get involved and challenge the current system. 

 

Addressing sustainability and social impact are fundamental to Kellogg’s Deploy for Growth strategy. Convening this group of leading voices further underscores the company’s commitment to help drive impactful solutions for achieving zero hunger. 

 

Through its global signature purpose platform, Breakfasts for Better Days™, Kellogg is addressing the critical issue of food security worldwide by feeding people in need and nurturing our planet. In 2017, Kellogg expanded feeding and nutrition education programs to reach 586,772 children, donated 570 million meals to people in need and supported nearly 300,000 farmers around the world.