India needs urgent food system transformation now

Source: The post India needs urgent food system transformation now has been created, based on the article “Sprouting sustainable, nutrition-sensitive food systems” published in “The Hindu” on 10 May 2025. India needs urgent food system transformation now.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- issues of buffer stocks and food security

Context: India, despite being a top global food producer, faces severe nutritional challenges including undernutrition, obesity, and hidden hunger. The 2024 Global Hunger Index ranks India at 105 out of 127. With climate change and rising costs affecting food access, a complete transformation of the food system is urgently needed.

For detailed information on Food Systems and Climate Change: Impacts and Mitigation Methods read this article here

India’s Dual Nutrition Burden

1. Widespread Undernutrition and Micronutrient Deficiency: Data from NFHS-5 (2019–21) shows 194 million undernourished Indians. Among children under five, 35.5% are stunted, 32.1% underweight, and 19.3% suffer from wasting. Anaemia affects 57% of women of reproductive age.
2. Rise in Overnutrition and Non-Communicable Diseases: Overweight and obesity are increasing rapidly — 24% of women and 22.9% of men are affected. The dual burden of malnutrition now includes undernutrition and diet-related diseases.
3. Inaccessibility of Healthy Diets: About 55.6% of Indians cannot afford nutritious food. The cost of a healthy diet rose from $2.86 PPP/day in 2017 to $3.36 in 2022, increasing food insecurity, even among food producers.

Structural and Climate Challenges

1. Failing Food Systems and Economic Loss: Globally, poor food systems cause $12 trillion in losses annually. For India, failing to act means worsening health costs, weak human capital, and reduced productivity.
2. Climate Change Threatens Food Security: Rising temperatures and erratic rainfall reduce crop yields, biodiversity, and small farmer incomes. These changes heighten India’s nutritional vulnerability.
3. Need for Systemic Reform: Current piecemeal efforts are inadequate. Without structural reforms that address food affordability, diversity, and sustainability, malnutrition will persist.

Strategies for Food System Transformation

1. Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture: Integrating nutrition goals into agriculture involves promoting climate-resilient, biofortified crops, increasing crop diversity, and improving storage systems to reduce food loss.

2.,Community-Driven Models: Models like Nutrition-Sensitive Community Planning (NSCP) address local nutrition factors through integrated efforts in health, WASH, and environmental conservation.

3. School-Based and Safety Net Programs: Initiatives like Nutri-Pathshala use biofortified grains in school meals and support local farmers. Expanding PDS and mid-day meal schemes with nutrient-rich, indigenous food ensures support for vulnerable groups.
4. Private Sector and Behavioural Change: Companies must prioritise nutrition by improving labelling, offering fortified or plant-based foods, and using digital tools for consumer awareness. Campaigns using games and radio help spread nutritional knowledge.

For detailed information on An opportunity to recast India’s food system read this article here

Innovation and Localisation for SDGs

1. Socio-Technical Innovation Bundles: Research in the Himalayas by TERI and FOLU promotes place-based innovation — growing local nutrient-rich crops, decentralised processing, and farmer-consumer networks enhance nutrition security.
2. Linking Food, Health, and Environment Goals: To meet SDGs 2, 3, and 12, India must align food policies with health and sustainability. Localised innovations are essential to bridge gaps between production and nutrition outcomes.

Role of the Health and Nutrition Community

1. Cross-Sector Collaboration is Vital: Nutritionists and public health professionals must work with planners to embed nutrition into all policies. The NSCP and Nutri-Pathshala demonstrate integrated impact.
2. A Call for Bold, Systemic Change: Incremental efforts are insufficient. A unified push by governments, businesses, and civil society is needed. Nutrition must drive future food, economic, and social policies.

Question for practice:

Examine the major challenges and strategies involved in transforming India’s food system to address its dual burden of malnutrition.