In a high-level address from Rome, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu urged world leaders, religious figures, and food system stakeholders to embrace a New Social Pact that unites human, artificial, ecological, and social intelligence around shared values. Speaking at a roundtable co-hosted by Coldiretti and the Fratelli tutti Foundation, Qu highlighted the urgent need to overhaul global agrifood systems that continue to fail millions.

"We stand at a convergence of crises: ecological breakdown, social fragmentation, economic inequality, and a technological gap. We are being called to take a leap forward into a future consciously designed," said Qu. He introduced the concept of Allied Intelligences, a framework that expands beyond just human and artificial intelligence, promoting a conscious and ethical alignment of all intelligence forms to serve people and the planet.

Qu emphasized that the right to food must be the backbone of this new framework. Citing FAO's latest figures, he noted that 677 million people faced hunger in 2024 - an alarming increase of 90 million since 2020, and 100 million since 2015. Despite minor improvements in certain regions, the global hunger crisis remains acute, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa and Western Asia. Projections suggest that over 500 million people could still suffer from chronic hunger by 2030 if current trends persist.

The proposed New Social Pact revolves around four key pillars: Fraternity, Food, Technology, and Regeneration. These concepts aim to make agrifood systems not only more efficient and resilient but also more inclusive, ethical, and human-centered. At the heart of the pact lies a call to integrate values like dignity, care, and meaning into agricultural policy and food production models.

According to Qu, peace and food security are interdependent. "Peace is a prerequisite for food security," he declared. Without political stability and inclusive governance, any transformation of food systems will be fragile and insufficient.

Participants at the roundtable, including religious leaders, Nobel laureates, and food policy experts, echoed these sentiments. They highlighted the importance of including spiritual and cultural dimensions in decision-making processes. Agrifood systems, they argued, should not be solely driven by market logics but must account for the well-being of communities, especially those most affected by food insecurity.

The FAO Director-General also stressed the need for global solidarity in tackling the hunger crisis. This includes investing in smallholder farmers, empowering women and youth, valuing indigenous and local knowledge, and deploying new technologies responsibly. Qu emphasized that Artificial Intelligence, if used ethically, could be a transformative force for farming communities, enabling greater yields with fewer inputs while preserving biodiversity and natural resources.

Qu's remarks come amid growing concern over rising input costs, climate-related disruptions, and geopolitical instability impacting food production and distribution. The COVID-19 pandemic, followed by global conflicts, exposed the fragility of international food supply chains, making the case for urgent structural reforms.

"Food must become a vehicle for connection and coexistence," said Qu. He closed by inviting all sectors to engage in co-creating a new vision that leaves no one behind. "FAO is committed to making this vision a reality," he affirmed.

The event titled "Allied Intelligences: Fraternity, Food, Technology and Regeneration for a New Social Pact" featured contributions from Vatican officials, Coldiretti Secretary-General Vincenzo Gesmundo, Nobel laureate Nadia Murad, and artist Shaggy, among others.