The Executive Director, Dr Andrew Kambugu has been named on the 29-member scientific group for the UN 2021 Food Systems Summit. The search committee sought African voices from disciplines related to food systems and this includes the infectious diseases arena which impacts both animal and plant food industries. This 2021 UN Food Systems Summit will be led by the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonia Guterres.

The UN 2021 Food Systems summit will raise global awareness in order to understand the food systems and then impel change in the food systems to provide safe and health-giving food for all within the global boundaries.

Through the Global Health Security Programme, the Infectious Diseases Institute with support from multiple funders has invested over a million dollars during the last three years in the support of One Health agenda in Uganda. One Health is a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach — working at the local, regional, national, and global levels — with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment.

“Today I am pleased to announce the official establishment of these structures. The UN Deputy Secretary-General will Chair the Advisory Committee. It will be comprised of Member State representatives as well as senior officials of relevant UN agencies, other international organizations, and individual experts across different sectors, including farmers, indigenous peoples, civil society, researchers, academics, young people, and business leaders.” ~Antonia Guterres.

The Scientific group will be led by Dr Joachim von Braun and it will help expand the shared knowledge base about approaches and tools for driving sustainable food systems. The UN Task Force will be Chaired by Indy Anderson, the Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme.

Focus on the food systems will create more inclusive and resilient solutions to future pandemics and that offer better protections for all.