The Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, has called for stronger collaboration between food scientists, policymakers and traditional institutions to tackle global hunger and accelerate progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger.
Sanusi made the call while addressing the 23rd International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) World Food Congress in Hong Kong, where he argued that scientific innovation must be translated into practical solutions that reach vulnerable communities.
The monarch, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, said the persistence of hunger was not simply a result of insufficient scientific knowledge but also reflected failures to implement available solutions effectively.
He stressed that addressing food insecurity requires collaboration between researchers, governments, community leaders and institutions that understand the social and economic realities of the people they serve.
Global Hunger Declines, but Africa Faces Serious Challenges
Citing the 2026 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report, Sanusi said the global prevalence of hunger declined from 8.6 per cent in 2022 to 7.8 per cent in 2025.
However, he expressed concern over the food security situation in Africa, where many households continue to struggle to afford adequate and nutritious meals.
Sanusi highlighted figures indicating that two out of every three Africans could not afford a healthy diet, underscoring the gap between global progress and the realities facing many communities.
The figures point to the need for interventions that address not only food production but also affordability, distribution, nutrition education and access to essential services.
For many households, the challenge extends beyond whether food is available in markets. The price of nutritious food, household income, transportation costs and the availability of reliable supply chains can all determine whether families can maintain a healthy diet.
Why Traditional Institutions Matter
Sanusi argued that traditional institutions could play an important role in ensuring that scientific knowledge and government programmes reach communities effectively.
Traditional rulers often maintain established relationships with local populations and can help communicate public policies, support community mobilisation and identify challenges that may not be immediately visible to policymakers.
Their involvement, he suggested, could help bridge the gap between scientific research and practical interventions, particularly in communities facing persistent poverty and food insecurity.
Such partnerships could support nutrition awareness, encourage improved agricultural practices and help identify households that require targeted assistance.
However, effective collaboration would also require clear responsibilities, measurable objectives and coordination with public health professionals, agricultural experts and government agencies.
Food Science and Technology in the Search for Solutions
The IUFoST World Food Congress brings together researchers, food scientists, policymakers and industry representatives to discuss challenges affecting food systems and nutrition.
The 2026 gathering addressed issues including food safety, innovative food ingredients, food processing, emerging contaminants, sustainability and the role of water in food production.
These areas have direct implications for food availability, affordability and quality. Improvements in storage and processing, for example, can reduce post-harvest losses, while stronger food safety systems can help protect consumers.
Yet technological advances alone cannot resolve every aspect of hunger. Their impact depends on whether innovations are affordable, accessible and adapted to the needs of the communities they are intended to serve.
Sanusi’s message therefore centred on the need to combine technical knowledge with community engagement and effective implementation.
Turning Commitments Into Action
The United Nations has identified the eradication of hunger and malnutrition as a central development objective, but progress remains uneven across regions.
Achieving Zero Hunger requires sustained action to improve agricultural productivity, strengthen food distribution, support vulnerable households and ensure access to nutritious diets.
Sanusi’s intervention adds to calls for a more coordinated response that brings together scientific institutions, governments and traditional leaders.
The challenge for policymakers will be to translate such calls into practical programmes with clear targets, adequate funding and measurable outcomes.