World Food Day 2025 reminded us of two things: the urgency of transforming our food systems, and the fact that no one can do it alone. The work of food systems transformation does not end after World Food Day closes its doors. In fact, this is when the possibilities of the connections made begin to take shape. Read on  to see how the energy, ideas, and connections sparked on 16 October are already being translated into next steps.

— Communications Team @NFP

Updates and Announcements

It was a day for new partnerships, a day for connection, and a day for renewed commitments. On October 16th, the Fokker Terminal in The Hague was filled with energy, insight, and creativity. With over 550 participants, our most attended edition of World Food Day yet, the event featured 22 side sessions, 15 networking zones and participants from 58 nationalities. The day’s message was clear: though the challenges we face are urgent and daunting, we need to do more, and progress is only possible when we act together.

The first ever Pitch Your Partnership final, spotlighted scalable ideas that accelerate sustainable and inclusive food systems. From 29 entries, five finalists were selected by a jury and pitched to the audience at WFD. Two winners were selected: a Jury Prize and, via real-time voting, an Audience Prize.

Jury Prize - Helen Keller Intl · INAS Integrated Nutrition

Audience Prize - INCLUSA  · Inclusive Agribusiness Accelerator

We’d like to extend a special thanks to all the excellent partnerships that submitted a pitch, making this an especially difficult decision for all involved. Expect to hear much more from both winners in the months ahead! 

From 10–21 November, global leaders and experts will convene in Belém, Brazil for COP30. Set to be an “implementation COP”, the focus is on accelerating national climate action plans. This year, the agenda touches upon agriculture, food security, biodiversity, water, and energy. Whether you are  attending in person or following remotely, this guide compiles practical information and key background to help you better understand the context, key locations, and sessions to follow at COP30.

What does food systems transformation look like behind the scenes? Strengthening partnerships can sometimes feel complex, and no single actor can see it all. But it can also be  inspiring, informative, and relatable. Welcome to the Beehive is NFP’s new podcast series offering a closer look at the people, partnerships, and purpose driving transformation. Each episode is one piece of the bigger picture. Begin with our first two episodes and follow along as we uncover more of the work behind the partnerships that will feed the future!

Salinity Magazine Returns with Second Edition
Salinisation of groundwater is an escalating challenge in water-scarce regions—threatening both drinking water supplies and food production. The second edition of the Salinity Magazine, produced by NFP and the Netherlands Water Partnership under the Saline Water & Food Systems (SWFS) partnership, brings this urgent issue into clearer view. Through expert interviews, global insights, and inspiring field stories, the magazine explores the growing impacts of salinity and highlights innovative responses from across the SWFS network. Join the conversation and share these practical solutions with your networks.

Egypt Study Tour: Cross-Regional Learning in Action
From 15–17 October 2025, ten representatives from leading Egyptian agri-food companies took part in a study tour to the Netherlands. The visit was co-organised by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Cairo, the Netherlands Food Partnership (NFP), and HollandDoor, and forms part of a broader ambition to strengthen Egypt’s agricultural technical and vocational education and training (TVET) landscape through international cooperation.

Our monthly newsletter is now also published as a LinkedIn newsletter. Subscribe to The Food Systems Lens to receive updates directly in your feed and stay connected with the latest on partnerships and food system transformation.

Opportunities

Are you ready to be a frontrunner in Food Systems Finance? NFP and Wageningen Social and Economic Research are launching first-ever E-Course on Food Systems Finance: a self-paced, free-of-charge course tailored for public, private, and blended finance actors. Starting 10 November, explore how financial flows can shape more sustainable food systems, from impact measurement to blended finance models. This is your chance to connect with peers worldwide and become a frontrunner in this emerging field. Applications close Sunday, 2 November; secure your spot now!

Events