United Nations Food Systems Summit: Need to transform food systems, say experts 

What is the news? 

Recently, United Nations Food System Summit took place in New York. In this summit, leaders emphasized that there is a need to achieve the United Nations-mandated Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030 and address climate change in view of food production. 

We must urgently move from incremental and siloed action towards a systems approach. The food system will not prosper until all sectors concerned work together. All stakeholders and people within the system play a crucial role through responsible and innovative practices in ensuring that everyone has access to healthy food. 

What is food system? 

According to Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), food systems encompass the entire range of actors and their interlinked value-adding activities involved in the production, aggregation, processing, distribution, consumption and disposal of food products. 

Food systems comprise all food products that originate from crop and livestock production, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture. They also constitute the broader economic, societal and natural environments in which these diverse production systems are embedded. 

What kind of food system we need today? 

World leaders need their commitments to more resilient, inclusive and sustainable food systems. The world is looking forward to a simpler and more inclusive food system. 

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has already given the world a ‘One-Health’ vision. Food systems can drive the global recovery in three fundamental ways: For people, for the planet, and for prosperity. 

What are the actions needed to realize the vision of 2030 agenda? 

– nourish all people 

– boost nature-based solutions 

– advance equitable livelihoods, decent work and empowered communities 

– Build resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stresses 

– support means of implementation

Source: This post is based on the article ” United Nations Food Systems Summit: Need to transform food systems, say experts ” published in Down to Earth on 24th September 2021.