Food systems and the sustainability agenda

Food systems embrace the entire range of actors and the interlinked value-adding activities involved in the production, aggregation, processing, distribution, consumption, and disposal of food products that originate from agriculture (including livestock), forestry, fisheries, and food industries, and the broader economic, societal, and natural environments in which they are embedded (von Braun et al., 2021, building on definitions by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) (2018) and others). Food systems are diverse and exist at global, regional, national and local levels. Food systems offer the opportunity to consider comprehensive ways to address the root causes of food security, hunger and malnutrition. They go beyond previous development and sustainability efforts, placing food at the centre of development. Food system transformation is crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SGD2. Food is a fundamental daily need. Our food’s quantity, quality and safety lie at the heart of our health and well-being. There are no cures for hunger, metabolic syndromes, and degenerative diseases that do not depend on access to safe and nutritious food for everyone. Solving complex food system and food security challenges requires careful integration of comprehensive packages of complementary programmes across government sectors.