First Meeting of the MSC Food Security Task Force

• This unique Task Force, which has 16 members from diverse world regions and sectors, will create an evidence-based and clearly argued memorandum which the Task Force members will share in their sectors, emphasizing the security and geopolitical relevance of food security.
• The next Task Force meeting will take place later this year in Rome and members will participate in upcoming MSC activities such as the Munich Leaders Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, COP29 in Baku, as well as the MSC 2025.

The Munich Security Conference (MSC) is actively engaging in addressing the complex intersection of food systems, geopolitics, and security with the first meeting of its Food Security Task Force. Convening at the Annenberg Foundation Trust’s historic Sunnylands estate in California from May 7 to 9, the first workshop of the 16 Task Force members marked the commencement of a unique initiative bringing together representatives of different sectors and regions to develop strategic approaches and impactful policies regarding global food insecurity. Half of the members represent countries and regions in the Global South and representatives from multilateral organizations – including the World Food Program, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, and NATO – as well as governments, NGOs, and the private sector form part of the group.

Several Task Force members first met at the margins of the MSC main conference in February 2024, marking the launch of the initiative during a MSC Townhall meeting. At Sunnylands, the group dove deeply into discussions around how to raise food security on the international policy agenda and how to think through the humanitarian and geopolitical dimensions of food insecurity challenges in innovative ways. Themes ranged from addressing the weaponization of food, fostering more stringent global governance action, and establishing new pioneering partnerships in the field.

The Task Force members stressed different aspects of the intersection of food systems and security:

• Michael Werz, Senior Advisor for North America and Multilateral Affairs at the MSC emphasized the geopolitical importance of food systems: “Still, food security is too often seen as a donor driven humanitarian aid issue. In truth it constitutes the key complex crisis scenario of the early 21st century and serves as litmus test for foreign and security policy.”
• Benedetta Berti, Head of Policy Planning at the Office of the Secretary General of NATO, highlighted the threat-multiplying effect of food insecurity: “It can exacerbate instability, undermine societal cohesion and has an inordinate impact on vulnerable individuals and communities. Environmental and food security are essential to building sustainable and equitable peace.”
• Vera Songwe, Chair and Founder of the Liquidity and Sustainability Facility and Co-chair of the Independent High Level Expert Group on Climate Finance stressed the connection of food security and markets: “Food security must be redefined [...] to a pressing business challenge. With 8 billion people to feed, and 13 trillion spent on food systems, we must focus on addressing the substantial market imperfections that exist in the sector. [...] This shift is essential to ensure global stability and meet the nutritional needs of our growing population while protecting our planet.”

The Task Force will create an evidence-based and clearly argued memorandum that the Task Force members will share in their sectors, emphasizing the security and geopolitical relevance of food security.

The Task Force will hold another meeting later this year in Rome, and members will participate in upcoming MSC activities, such as the Munich Leaders Meeting in Rio de Janeiro during the Brazilian G20 summit and at COP29 in Baku. First year results and recommendations will be discussed at the MSC 2025.

With the Food Security Task Force, MSC contributes to filling a critical gap in current conversations by convening high-level meetings focusing on geopolitical and security risks impacting food systems. The MSC Food Security Task Force facilitates innovative and forward-looking policy conversations on the intersection of food systems and security for two years (2024–2026). Previous discussions have highlighted the need to transition from an ad-hoc to a more strategic approach and the Task Force convenes key actors from diverse regions and sectors, including national security, development, as well as private and finance sectors, to discuss potential food systems reforms. It will promote and endorse a policy debate that shifts the conversation towards geopolitically informed, systemic solutions, as well as developing action-oriented strategies, including financial pledges and institutional reforms. More information about the Food Security Task Force and a list of its members can be found on our website.

The Food Security Task Force is part of the MSC’s Human Security Program and is made possible by support from the American Friends of the MSC, the Annenberg Foundation, and the Cargill Foundation. The first Task Force meeting was made possible with support of The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands.

Please reach out to us via press@securityconference.org in case you are interested in a press opportunity with one of the MSC Food Security Task Force Members or would like to have more information about the initiative.