The summit, held jointly between the Democratic Federal Republic of Ethiopia and the Republic of Italy, aims to assess the global progress made since the 2021 Food Systems Summit.

By Chuol Chanyong

The government of South Sudan is targeting new investments in its agriculture sector at the United Nations Food Systems Summit, set to take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on July 28.

Held in partnership between the Democratic Federal Republic of Ethiopia and the Republic of Italy, the summit seeks to assess global progress since the 2021 Food Systems Summit. It brings together world leaders, policymakers, civil society, the private sector, and development partners to evaluate national and global strategies for building sustainable food systems.

Addressing the media in Juba on Friday, South Sudan’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, described the summit as a timely opportunity for the country to showcase its agricultural transformation efforts, attract investment, and forge new partnerships.

“South Sudan seeks to review our progress at national and global levels, track the implementation of commitments, and highlight innovative homegrown solutions,” Akol said.

He emphasized the government’s broader plans to mobilize investment, align financial resources for agricultural transformation, and strengthen the linkages between food systems, climate action, biodiversity, and public health.

With only five years left to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, the summit serves as a key platform for accelerating the transition toward resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems.

South Sudan’s participation comes at a pivotal moment. In early 2025, the government declared a renewed focus on agriculture, launching a series of strategic initiatives aimed at boosting food production, improving food security, and reducing dependency on imports.

Despite vast agricultural potential, South Sudan continues to face challenges such as poor infrastructure, limited access to inputs and financing, frequent climate shocks, and low productivity among smallholder farmers—many of whom lack access to modern tools, extension services, and post-harvest technologies.

In collaboration with the United Nations and development partners, the government is rolling out interventions designed to strengthen resilience to climate change, promote sustainable farming practices, and improve access to seeds, irrigation, equipment, and market connections.

Minister Akol stressed that the country’s engagement with the UN and its partners remains vital. “We are implementing coordinated programs and forging strategic alliances that are essential to the future of our food systems,” he noted.

As South Sudan positions itself for agricultural transformation, its presence at the UN Food Systems Summit underscores its commitment to long-term food security, sustainability, and economic growth.