The Food System Economics Commission published a report highlighting the unsustainable trajectory of the global food system and estimating potential economic benefits of transformation at 5 to 10 trillion USD annually. (Publication #1, News #1).
The Knowledge Centre for Global Food and Nutrition Policy has released a scientific brief on Sustainable Food Systems, exploring agreed definitions, frameworks, and drivers for transformation in low- and middle- Income countries. It emphasizes diversified crop systems, agroecological practices and aquatic food development, among others, for better food security and nutrition. (Publication #2)
Increasing sustainable food production for healthy diets
A knowledge brief by the DeSIRA initiative provides evidence of agroecology’s positive impact on food security and ecosystem services. It reveals increased yields in agroecological systems compared to conventional systems, especially in low-input scenarios, and emphasizes the importance of legumes for food security and nutrition. (Publication #3)
On World Pulses Day 2024, FAO highlighted the role of pulses in maintaining soil health and providing vital nutrition to communities worldwide. (News #2)
The Devex news agency features “The Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils”, a US initiative in partnership with the African Union and FAO, promoting traditional crops over staple cereals for African farmers. The focus is on 60 indigenous crops that are among the most nutritious and might prove more resilient to climate change. This initiative also aims to improve soil health while making farmers less dependent on commercial seeds for maize, wheat and rice. (News #3)
A report by TABLE advocates for plant-based diets to achieve climate and health goals while relativizing concerns about “ultra-processed” foods”. It details plant-based meats’ nutritional and sustainability advantages compared to real meat products. (Publication #4)
Providing an enabling environment for food systems transformation
Publication #5 suggests targeted investments in research areas that can generate benefits for smallholder farmers globally, like climate change mitigation and adaptation, soil health and nutrient managements, and crop diversity and nutrition, among others.
IFPRI’s economic analysis of drivers of food system transformation in 21 developing countries emphasises the importance of downstream agrifood systems sectors and domestic market opportunities for future food systems transformation. (Event #5)
The Food Systems Integrated Program led by FAO and IFAD will implement projects in 22 countries to support national food systems transformation. It focuses specifically on eight agrifood value chains and sectors: maize, rice, wheat, cocoa, palm oil, soy, livestock and aquaculture (Project and activities #6)
News #4 by the World Bank outlines seven financing sources to support a global agrifood system that, besides being productive, is resilient, sustainable, inclusive, nutritious, and net-zero. These includes repurposing public support, improving the quality of private sector investments, scaling-up climate financing, addressing fragmentation of ODA, tailoring loss and damage financing , rethinking poverty lines, and targeting debt relief.
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