Glytabs September 2025 Newsletter
The Global Food System at a Crossroads: Aligning Progress, Sustainability, and Innovation
The past month has been marked by three pivotal conversations shaping the future of food and agriculture in Africa and globally. The FAO’s latest report on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators provided a sobering yet hopeful snapshot of progress in the food and agriculture sector. While some advances have been recorded, the report underscores persistent challenges – malnutrition, food insecurity, and climate impacts, which remain pressing concerns. It highlights the need for accelerated efforts to align national food systems with global targets, emphasizing that progress cannot be taken for granted.
At the FAO Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation, the focus turned to the livestock sector, which is central to both livelihoods and sustainability. Discussions emphasized the importance of rethinking livestock systems to make them more modern, climate-smart, resource-efficient, and resilient to shocks. The conference stressed that sustainable livestock practices are key not only for reducing emissions but also for enhancing nutrition and income generation for millions of households across Africa.
Meanwhile, the Africa Food Systems Forum 2025 spotlighted the promise of the dynamism of youth and the power of innovation. Young entrepreneurs and researchers showcased practical solutions, from climate-smart technologies to digital platforms for improving market access, which are redefining what food system transformation can look like. The forum made clear that empowering Africa’s youthful population is not optional; it is the continent’s most important lever for achieving food and nutrition security.
Though distinct in scope, these three moments converge on a common message: transforming our food systems requires a balance of evidence-based policies, sustainable practices, and inclusive innovation. Whether through global assessments, sectoral conferences, or continental dialogues, the urgency is the same: Africa must accelerate actions to ensure its food systems are nutritious, resilient, and future-ready.
For us at Glytabs Consulting Limited (GCL), these conversations strike a deep chord. Our work across agribusiness, food systems, health and nutrition, policy, and regulatory compliance is grounded in the same realities being debated globally. Certainly, food systems transformation will not succeed without:
- Evidence that guides smarter policies and investments,
- Sustainable practices, particularly in high-impact sectors like livestock, and
- Innovation and youth-driven energy to scale new solutions.
These themes are therefore not abstract to us; they mirror the opportunities and gaps we encounter in our partnerships with government, businesses, and development organizations. This is why GCL is committed to supporting stakeholders to translate high-level dialogues into actionable strategies that will strengthen resilience, improve food safety and nutrition, and drive long-term sustainability. As these global and regional conversations remind us, the time for incremental change has passed. The real task before us now is integration for a quantum leap by ensuring that innovation, sustainability, and governance move hand in hand.
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