In a time when food systems are under pressure from conflict, climate, and inequality, the need for responsible stewardship has never been greater. At UNFSS+4 and in our wider network, we see partners working across divides; strengthening resilience, deepening collaboration, and staying anchored in shared values. This month’s stories highlight the steady, often quiet work of building food systems that benefit all.

— Communications Team @NFP

Updates and Announcements

Weren't able to attend the Stocktake? In our latest blog post, we reflect on what we saw, what we learned, and how we are moving forward together. From high-level dialogues to informal conversations, the Stocktake revealed both the distance travelled and the road ahead. One clear signal of momentum stood out: the Food Systems Accelerator, a new initiative supporting national convenors to fast-track food systems transformation. Partners including GAIN, Akademya2063, SUN, GIZ, NFP will closely collaborate with FAO and the UNFSS Coordination Hub in responding to country demand.

With UNFSS+4 in the background, the Netherlands Food Partnership hosted a netWORKing Dinner as part of its Biodiversity & Food Systems Partnership. The discussions consistently returned to 3 critical truths: 

Additional True Pricing Seed Fund Winners Announced
We're excited to welcome Maas International and Grows in Rows as additional 2025 recipients of the NFP True Pricing Seed Fund. These initiatives are applying innovative pricing methods to advance food system transformation in LMICs.

With the annual return of the LVVN Attaché network to the Netherlands in June 2025, NFP, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Dutch Research Council and CGIAR, hosted a dialogue to explore strategic opportunities for enhancing global food security through research-policy collaboration. Through sharing of experiences and ideas the session explored opportunities to ensure that the CGIAR research infrastructure can be more effectively linked to Dutch diplomatic efforts and international food security programming.

Opportunities

The RVO Impact Clusters instrument is now open for proposals. Dutch businesses, NGOs, and knowledge partners are invited to form consortia to tackle challenges in food, water, and energy sectors in LMICs.

Saline Water and Food Systems Partnership Joins Mission to Vietnam
This October, the SWFS Partnership joins an RVO-led innovation mission to Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. The mission will focus on tackling salinisation and enhancing climate-resilient horticulture.

A new Bid Book highlights 27 high-potential cold chain enterprises in East Africa. Designed for investors and practitioners, it showcases opportunities to drive sustainable food systems through agrologistics.

Authors are invited to contribute to a special issue in Elsevier’s Agricultural Systems on responsible scaling; how to scale innovations without losing sight of equity, inclusion, or sustainability. This issue will explore how scaling processes can better serve local systems and long-term change.

Events 

How do we secure healthy diets while sustaining our ecosystems? Join NFP and partners in Stockholm from 24–28 August to explore this pressing question at the intersection of water, food, and biodiversity.

SeedNL and APSA convened stakeholders across Asia and beyond to explore the balance between plant breeders’ and farmers’ rights. This online dialogue series has opened up new space for shared understanding and future policy collaboration. The next session in the series focuses on Thailand and takes place on August 14th, 9h CET.

How do we take care of our common future in a divided world? This symposium, organised by Woord en Daad, brings together voices from science, policy, and practice to explore stewardship in times of food system transition. Date: 15:30 CET Location: The Hague, NL.

In preparation for the 2025 Africa Food Systems Forum in Dakar, NFP invites partners to a network briefing to share insights, priorities, and connect with others planning to attend. This session, which will take place on August 18th at 15h CET,  is an opportunity to align around key messages and build momentum toward collective impact at the Forum.