President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has called on world leaders at the ongoing World Food Forum in Rome, Italy, to take four bold actions to achieve the global vision “Good Food for All, For Today and Tomorrow.”

The President was speaking today, Monday, October 14^th, at the start of the event when he delivered the keynote address.

He named the four actions as support for local food systems, promoting climate resilience, strengthening social safety nets and fostering global collaborations and partnerships.

The Liberian leader indicated that investments in rural infrastructure such as roads, markets, and storage facilities can improve supply chains and decrease post-harvest losses. He said support to local farming cooperatives and smallholder initiatives will empower communities and foster resilience.

He continued: “Climate change is an undeniable reality and a significant threat to food security. We must adopt and implement climate-smart agricultural practices and invest in research for drought-resistant crops that can withstand changing weather patterns.”

The President then called for the broadening of social protection programs that, he said, can provide direct support to those most at risk of food insecurity. He also noted that access to nutrition for children, pregnant women, and the elderly is essential to break the cycle of poverty and malnourishment.

President Boakai also urged world leaders at the forum to engage in cross-border collaborations, share best practices, and foster partnerships with civil society, private sector stakeholders and international organizations. He continued: “United, we can take dedicated actions to create sustainable food systems that not only feed our nations but lay the foundation for enduring peace and prosperity.”

The Liberian leader said: “The time for rhetoric has passed; it is now the moment for robust, unified action. We have the knowledge, the resources, and the humanity to tackle this crisis head-on. Let us emerge from this meeting, not with mere commitments but with actionable steps that we will plant firmly in the ground as we sow the seeds of hope and resilience.”

He continued: “The tragedy in our food insecurity lies not in our inability to produce raw agricultural materials but in our inability to transform the highly perishable raw agricultural materials into stable intermediate and tertiary food products that can be traded over time.”

President Boakai also called on world leaders to join Liberia and other developing nations to pursue the immediate development of a viable engineering subsector that produces the capital goods that are vital in food and consumer goods production; something he said is an imperative for Liberia.

The President then outlined Liberia’s own plan to transform the nation’s agricultural sector including mechanization and value chain development for oil palm and cocoa among other vital food crops that are part of the National Agriculture Development Plan.

On the sidelines of the World Food Forum, President Boakai held a bilateral meeting with FAO Director-General, Qu Dongyu, where he emphasized the need for strengthened partnership and collaboration with the UN Food body, and on aligning the organization’s program in Liberia with the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.

The FAO Director General was full of praises for the Liberian leader. Qu Dongyu reaffirmed his organization’s support and technical assistance to Liberia including for promoting development for women and youth and science, technology and innovation towards agrifood systems transformation and Liberia’s Agricultural Development Plan.

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