WFD2026: Pope Urges Global Action Against Use of Food as War Tool

Pope Leo XIV has called on the international community to prevent the use of food as a weapon of war, geopolitical pressure or an instrument for financial speculation.

The Pope made the call in his message to the 2026 World Food Day ceremony, delivered by Monsignor Fernando Chica Arellano, the Vatican’s representative to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

The Pope expressed concern that hunger persisted despite technological advancements, attributing the situation to inadequate political will and collective commitment to ensuring access to food.

He described it as unacceptable that food should be treated as a privilege rather than a basic necessity in an era of unprecedented technological progress.

The Pope emphasised that access to safe, adequate and sufficient food was a fundamental human right, which individual countries and the international community had a duty to protect.

He also warned against technological innovations driven solely by profit, saying agricultural practices that degraded soil fertility or displaced farmers could not be regarded as progress.

He called for increased investment in sustainable agricultural research, the restoration of degraded soils and the integration of modern technology with farmers’ traditional knowledge.

The Pope advocated a new global food system in which technological innovation prioritised human dignity and the common good.

He warned that innovations designed to dominate natural resources and exclude vulnerable populations could fuel violence and conflict.

Conversely, he said innovation guided by environmental responsibility and justice for hungry people could help secure a better food future.

Earlier, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu said innovation must be people-centred and accessible, particularly to farmers and rural communities, to improve food security, livelihoods and economic development.

Qu said technologies such as satellite crop monitoring, early-warning systems, smart irrigation and digital platforms were helping farmers manage climate risks, conserve water and access markets and financial services.

He, however, stressed that innovation alone was insufficient unless its benefits reached those who needed them most and could be widely adopted.

The FAO chief noted that a significant gap remained between scientific advances and the technologies available to farmers, calling for stronger investments and partnerships to address local needs.

He said climate extremes, water scarcity and conflict were placing increasing pressure on agri-food systems, making innovation crucial to producing more food with fewer resources and strengthening resilience.

Qu called for greater collaboration among governments, researchers, producers and communities, stressing that no single institution could deliver the transformation required.