World Food Prize 2026 Emphasizes Safe Food as a Fundamental Right

Food Safety: A Global Concern

During the opening ceremony of the World Food Prize 2026 in Des Moines, Iowa, QU Dongyu, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, highlighted the importance of safe food in the fight against hunger.

“Food that makes people sick does not feed them,” Dongyu stated, pointing out that unsafe food leads to illnesses that affect 866 million individuals worldwide. This situation results in lost productivity and healthcare costs amounting to approximately $110 billion annually in low- and middle-income countries.

Acknowledging Achievements in Food Safety

At the event, the prestigious 2026 World Food Prize was awarded to Huub Lelieveld, a renowned Dutch scientist with over six decades of contributions to food safety research and advocacy. His work has significantly impacted the establishment of globally harmonized food safety standards.

The ceremony, honoring the legacy of Norman Borlaug, a key figure in the Green Revolution credited with saving millions from hunger, attracted more than 1,000 participants from over 60 countries, including agriculture ministers and former World Food Prize laureates.

Three Imperatives for the Future

In his keynote speech titled “What Will It Take to Feed the Future?”, Dongyu outlined three essential challenges that must be addressed:

• Producing enough food for a growing population while minimizing environmental impact.
• Ensuring food safety and nutrition for all.
• Guaranteeing that food reaches those most in need.

These principles are core to the FAO's Strategic Framework for 2022-2031, supporting their Four Betters approach: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life.

The Role of Institutions in Food Safety

Dongyu emphasized that safe food is vital for building trust and transforming agricultural systems. He cited how food safety issues know no borders, impacting even wealthier nations. For instance, the drought in 2012 led to widespread aflatoxin contamination of maize across the American Midwest, a problem that also affects regions in Africa and South Asia.

Key institutions such as the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the International Plant Protection Convention, both linked to the FAO, play crucial roles in ensuring global food safety. The newly launched Global Partnership Programme for Transboundary Animal Diseases (GPP-TAD) further enhances food security through shared surveillance and biosecurity efforts.

Towards Inclusive and Resilient Food Systems

The Director-General concluded by stressing the need for agricultural systems that are efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable to ensure access to safe food for everyone. “Safe food is the foundation of food security,” he remarked during a dinner honoring World Food Prize winners, underscoring that without safety, food cannot fulfill its purpose.

“Safe food nourishes us, supports livelihoods, and builds trust in food systems,” he asserted, reinforcing the idea that the right to safe food is essential for all.