Unsustainable food systems are the leading threat to both nature and human health, but transforming these systems presents an opportunity to address multiple global crises. Food systems transformation is increasingly recognized as essential for reversing nature loss, limiting global warming to 1.5°C, adapting to climate change, and ensuring global access to healthy food. However, there are still significant gaps in ambition, strategy, and implementation, which hinder progress.

There is no universal solution for transforming food systems, as regions face different challenges based on their unique ecological, cultural, and developmental contexts. Six distinct "Food System Types" have been identified to simplify the complexity of global food systems based on environmental and socioeconomic factors. These types highlight varying patterns in performance. For example, some systems excel in ecological performance but lack biodiversity, while others perform well in biodiversity but poorly in environmental management.

To guide food system transformation, experts have consolidated a set of 20 top transformation levers across six strategic areas: natural resource management, governance, education, technology, trade, and finance. These levers are tailored to the unique contexts of each Food System Type to maximize impact and ensure that local actions are effective in addressing global food system challenges.