The Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II, has called for stronger collaboration between global food scientists and traditional institutions to tackle food insecurity and accelerate the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger.

Sanusi, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), made the call while addressing the 23rd International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) World Food Congress in Hong Kong.

The monarch, who is also Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, argued that the persistent global hunger crisis was no longer primarily a challenge of scientific knowledge but a failure to translate available solutions into effective interventions at the community level.

Citing the 2026 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) Report, Sanusi noted that global hunger declined from 8.6 per cent in 2022 to 7.8 per cent in 2025, but expressed concern over the worsening food security situation across Africa.

He disclosed that two out of every three Africans could not afford a healthy diet, while nearly 36 million Nigerians were projected to face acute food insecurity during the lean season, describing the figure as the highest on record.

The Emir maintained that scientific breakthroughs and technological innovations alone would not eliminate hunger without the active participation of traditional institutions, which command enormous influence and public trust at the grassroots.

“Zero Hunger will not be achieved by laboratories alone, nor by palaces alone,” Sanusi declared.

He explained that indigenous food security mechanisms, including traditional grain reserves, locally known as Rumbu, as well as Islamic social welfare instruments such as Zakat and Waqf, had sustained vulnerable communities long before the emergence of modern government institutions.

According to him, these traditional arrangements provide valuable lessons for contemporary food security policies, particularly in addressing food distribution, community resilience and social protection.

Drawing lessons from Nigeria’s successful campaign against poliomyelitis, the former CBN governor recalled how traditional rulers played critical roles in overcoming vaccine resistance and mobilising communities through public trust and grassroots engagement.

He argued that similar partnerships between scientists, policymakers and traditional leaders could significantly improve the implementation and acceptance of nutrition and food security interventions.

To achieve this, Sanusi proposed four strategic interventions, including the joint design of nutrition programmes with traditional leaders and the scientific validation of indigenous food knowledge.

Other measures, he said, included increased investment in community-based food production systems and greater commitment by traditional councils to embracing modern food science and technology.

The monarch stressed that the global campaign against hunger should not be viewed as a competition between traditional practices and modern scientific innovations but as an opportunity to harness their collective strengths.

He pledged the commitment of the Kano Emirate Council to supporting international partnerships and initiatives aimed at improving nutrition, strengthening food security and eliminating hunger.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the IUFoST World Food Congress 2026, Professor Anlong Xu, said Hong Kong was selected to host the international gathering because of its strategic position as a global centre for food science, technological innovation and cultural exchange.

Xu explained that the city provides a unique environment where traditional culinary practices intersect with scientific discoveries and international food supply chains.

According to him, Hong Kong’s strong connection with the Greater Bay Area and its position as a bridge between Eastern and Western economies make it an ideal destination for advancing international cooperation in food science and technology.

“Hong Kong is where ideas move freely between East and West. Leveraging our unique advantages and deep integration with the Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong serves as a vital platform for both attracting global expertise and supporting the global reach of new solutions,” Xu said.

He added that the city’s unique position would provide participants with opportunities to exchange knowledge, develop innovative solutions and strengthen international partnerships for sustainable food systems.

The 23rd IUFoST World Food Congress brought together food scientists, researchers, policymakers, industry leaders and other stakeholders from across the world to deliberate on emerging challenges confronting global food systems.

The congress focused on critical issues, including functional foods and human health, innovative food ingredients, advanced processing technologies and the role of water in food production and processing.

Other major areas of discussion included food safety, regulatory science, emerging contaminants, food measurement technologies, sustainability and the revitalisation of traditional food knowledge.