Food systems are intimately linked to people's lives – through the food they eat, the nutrition and health, the livelihoods, jobs and to the environment and natural resources of the planet. Finding sustainable solutions to various food systems problems depends on improved knowledge and evidence, and a greater understanding of the views and insights of the diverse actors involved.

This synthesis brief presents some of the initial findings on strategic food system sustainability issues that are emerging from the food systems assessments and stakeholder consultations underway in over 50 countries around the world implemented by FAO, the European Union and the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD). It includes key findings from some of the pilot countries such as Bhutan, Nepal, Senegal and Madagascar.