“This Summit invites us to pause and reconnect with the deeper purpose of food systems. Bhutan offers a unique setting for that reflection. It is a place where global ambition can meet lived experiences; where policy can meet culture; and where meaningful collaboration can emerge. When you join us in Bhutan later this year, we hope you will not only hear about conscious food systems—you will feel them. In our landscapes, in our communities, and in the everyday decisions of our people who practice consciousness not as an ideal, but as a way of life.” - H.E. Dasho Tshering, Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan.

The launch signals a shift in how food systems transformation is understood. Alongside policy, finance and technology, speakers emphasised the role of culture, values, wellbeing and inner development in shaping decisions across food systems.

“The Global Conscious Food Systems Summit will serve as a living laboratory showcasing approaches that integrate traditional knowledge, farmers wellbeing, regenerative practices, and mindful consumption.  Its relevance goes beyond food systems. The changes of hearts and minds the summit promotes are essential to address at their roots the interconnected crises we face.  And the time has come to focus global attention on just this.” - Haoliang Xu, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNDP Associate Administrator.

“What we witnessed today was truly inspiring. We saw a global community ready to reimagine food systems not merely as production lines or markets, but as living systems shaped by values, consciousness, and collective responsibility. UNDP is honored to be a co-host of this global this landmark Summit, which seeks to pave the path for a new global food future, one rooted in wisdom, nature connection and compassion.” - Mr Mohammad Younus, Resident Representative of UNDP in Bhutan.

The Summit will bring together a global movement of policymakers, farmers, indigenous leaders, researchers, businesses, youth and civil society seeding a Framework for Conscious Food Systems, rooted in a shared vision, guiding principles, case studies, and key lessons - alongside recommendations to guide collective action.

Food systems remain at the heart of pressing global challenges: climate change, poverty, biodiversity loss and land degradation. Technology and innovation alone cannot solve these challenges. It demands deeper shift in mindsets and in values. This summit will shape a bold and innovative path for harnessing the transformative power of consciousness to unlock food system transformation has never been more urgent and critical. 

Registration is now open, as well as a global participatory process inviting contributions to the Summit programme.

Note for Editors:

For more information: https://www.consciousfoodsummit.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/conscious-food-systems-alliance

Watch the official Summit video here

About the Global Conscious Food Systems Summit 2026
The Global Conscious Food Systems Summit 2026 is the first global convening dedicated to integrating consciousness, values and inner development into food systems transformation. Co-hosted by the Royal Government of Bhutan, CoFSA and UNDP, the Summit will take place in Paro, Bhutan, from 31 August to 4 September 2026.

Other quotes from the launch event:

“Food is an identity, it is a culture, it is a practice. It is not only nutrition. For us it goes beyond. For indigenous people this is rooted in our ancestral knowledge. A conscious food system must protect and value cultural diversity, not replace them. And food systems transformation must connect the youths, the women and the elderly. Women must be in the center as they are the ones producing the food that can feed families.” - Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, President of The Association for Indigenous Women & Peoples of Chad (AFPAT) and Co-chair of the International Indigenous Peoples Forum On Climate Change.

“Being part of this network has allowed us to meet organisations and individuals walking this path, which has been deeply inspiring. We have shared our questions, our pain,  struggles, our compassion. It has shown us that transforming food systems is not only about production, it is also about human consciousness, about how we relate to ourselves, to each other, and to the earth.” - Nana Woo,  Human Development Specialist at SEKEM, Egypt.

Media contacts:
Dechen  Wangmo - Bhutan and Asia - dechen.wangmo@undp.org

Ashwini Prabha - Global - ashwin.prabha@undp.org