Bhutan PM Asks: Why Does So Much About Our Global Food System Not Add Up?

Bhutan Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay has questioned why the global food system continues to leave hundreds of millions of people hungry despite unprecedented advances in food production and agricultural knowledge. Speaking at the opening of the first Global Conscious Food Systems Summit in Paro, he highlighted the disconnect between food production, human wellbeing, livelihoods and the environment.

“The very people who feed us themselves too often struggle to maintain a decent living. Something does not add up,” Tobgay observed while outlining the need for a shared understanding of what constitutes a conscious food system. He noted that modern food systems produce more food than ever before, yet hunger persists, while farmers and others working across the food chain often face economic and social challenges.

Hosted by the Royal Government of Bhutan, the Conscious Food Systems Alliance (CoFSA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the summit has brought together nearly 400 participants from more than 60 countries. The gathering seeks to promote a broader approach to transforming food systems by considering culture, values, spirituality, happiness and inner development alongside sustainability, justice and wellbeing.

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Tobgay also drew attention to the complex network behind an everyday meal. He explained that food reaching a person's table depends on farmers, fertile soil, adequate water, seeds, transportation, markets and preparation, while also being closely connected to family health, livelihoods, economies, landscapes and culture. He argued that these relationships are often overlooked because consumers primarily see the finished food on their plates.

The summit features participation from figures including Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, former Irish President Mary Robinson, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Bombay Bishop Allwyn D'Silva, Indigenous youth leader Taily Terena and SEKEM Development Foundation founder Helmy Abou El Eisch. Discussions are expected to contribute to a framework for Conscious Food Systems covering a vision, guidelines, case studies and lessons learned.

Tobgay also outlined how Bhutan's development philosophy could contribute to the global conversation. He pointed to Gross National Happiness, which places people's wellbeing, communities and environmental protection alongside economic growth, jobs and investment. He further highlighted the Gelephu Mindfulness City as an opportunity to connect food, agriculture, health, technology, enterprise and sustainability, urging participants to view these areas as part of one interconnected system.

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