Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has stated that hunger is not due to a lack of food, but a failure of our planned economic system. He made this remark while delivering the keynote speech at the World Food Forum in Rome, Italy, on Monday (13 October).
In his written speech, he said, “In 2024, 673 million people were hungry worldwide. Yet, we produce enough food. This is not a failure of production; it is a failure of the economic system. Where we have failed to raise a few billion dollars to end hunger, the world is spending $2.7 trillion on arms.”
Dr. Yunus also highlighted the contribution of Bangladesh’s youth. He said, “Last year, our young people peacefully led the movement to restore power. Their goal was to return power to the people and build a society based on justice, inclusion, and trust.”
He noted that the upcoming national elections in February would institutionalize the commitment to justice and people’s empowerment.
To address hunger and economic system issues, he proposed six steps—
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Break the hunger-conflict cycle and ensure food supply in conflict-prone areas.
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Fulfill SDG financing commitments, prioritize climate action, and support the stability of vulnerable populations.
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Establish regional food banks to stabilize supply chains.
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Support local entrepreneurs—especially young people, farmers, women, and food processors—through finance, infrastructure, and global partnerships.
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Remove export bans and ensure trade policies support food security.
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Ensure access to technology and innovation, especially for rural and Global South youth.
Dr. Yunus’s speech focused on ending hunger and creating a just, equitable economic system.