Chairperson of the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, Damilola Olawuyi (SAN), has called on governments, agribusinesses and global stakeholders to adopt sustainable, rights-based approaches to food security that address food fraud and promote food justice.

Olawuyi made the call while presenting a report at the 62nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.

The report, themed Agribusiness, Food Security and Human Rights, examines how governments, investors and businesses can design and implement food security programmes that align with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

He noted that as countries and investors increase funding for food production to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 2 on zero hunger, there is a growing need to ensure that such initiatives do not trigger adverse human rights impacts.

According to him, poorly regulated food security investments could lead to land grabbing, environmental degradation, food waste and food fraud practices.

He described food fraud as including adulteration of food, misleading labelling, fraudulent packaging, seed theft, abuse of food assistance programmes and illicit trade in food products.

 Olawuyi urged stakeholders to leverage ongoing investments in the agribusiness sector to build sustainable food value chains that deter fraudulent practices while enhancing accountability.

“International law has key roles to play in ensuring the safety and sustainability of the food we eat. Consumers want assurance that food products are not adulterated, wrongly labelled or falsely marketed as environmentally sustainable,” he said.

He added that the report provides practical legal guidance for policymakers, investors and institutions to navigate emerging challenges in food systems while strengthening resilience and sustainability.

The senior advocate emphasised that food security programmes must be designed and implemented in ways that do not create or replicate human rights abuses.

“Human rights must be placed at the centre of global efforts to advance food security and sustainable food systems. This includes ensuring affordability, tackling food fraud and promoting food justice in line with international standards,” he said.

He further called for inclusive policies that support smallholder farmers with access to finance, technology and training needed to participate effectively in food supply chains.

Olawuyi also urged businesses and investors to integrate human rights considerations into their operational strategies as part of risk management, while calling for stronger coordination among governments to align food security, climate and development policies with human rights standards.

He cautioned against greenwashing and misleading food claims, stressing the need for transparency in food labelling, including accurate information on origin, environmental impact, processing methods and composition.

Highlighting the role of education and advocacy, he noted that higher institutions, civil society groups, indigenous communities and human rights defenders are critical in identifying and addressing risks across food and agribusiness value chains.