Tanzania has reaffirmed its strong support for food sovereignty during the high-level ministerial meeting of the United Nations Food Systems Summit Plus Four (UNFSS+4) held on July 29, 2025, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Leading the Tanzanian delegation, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, emphasized that food sovereignty is a fundamental right of communities to determine how to produce, distribute, and consume food based on their cultural values and local needs.
In his address at the Ministerial Roundtable on Food Sovereignty and National Pathways to Accelerate Food Systems Transformation, Kombo said Tanzania views food sovereignty not as a distant goal but a vital necessity for the current and future generations’ well-being.
He highlighted the growing challenges facing food systems worldwide, including climate change, rising food prices, post-harvest losses, and disruptions in global supply chains.
“Tanzania is committed to empowering small-scale farmers, fishers, and pastoralists with necessary resources and knowledge. We are revitalizing traditional farming practices, enhancing food value chains, and promoting climate-smart agriculture through our National Climate Resilient Agriculture Program,” he stated.
The minister also underscored ongoing efforts under the Second Phase of the Agricultural Sector Development Program (ASDP II) to improve crop storage and processing, aiming to reduce food loss and ensure sustainable supply.
Kombo stressed that sustainable transformation of food systems demands strong national ownership, respect for local customs, and protection of the environment.
“The right to food includes the right to choose how we feed our families,” he noted.
The UNFSS+4 brought together senior officials from governments, international organizations, and development partners, aiming to fast-track the implementation of commitments made during the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit.