The challenges food systems face are highly complex, context-specific and often unpredictable. Transformation to sustainable food systems is needed, in a coherent manner, as appropriate, and in accordance with and dependent on national context and capacities. There is no single approach for achieving food security and nutrition and all food systems have the potential to contribute further to sustainable agriculture and food systems that enhance food security and nutrition by following context appropriate transition pathways. Holistic and innovative approaches to addressing food system challenges have been gaining the interest of many stakeholders over the past years. This led the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) to request its High-level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE) to develop the report, Agroecological and Other Innovative Approaches for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems that Enhance Food Security and Nutrition, which informs these policy recommendations. Agroecological approaches are increasingly prominent in debates around the sustainability of agriculture and food systems because of their holistic approach and emphasis on equity, also leading to the Ten Elements of Agroecology as an internationally agreed formulation of the main elements that characterize agroecology. The HLPE report puts forward a set of 13 agroecological principles. Agroecological and other innovative approaches mentioned in these policy recommendations are a set of practices, technologies and/or methods and that look beyond single technological social or institutional innovations and must contribute to sustainable agriculture and food systems that enhance food security and nutrition for current and future generations. The implementation of these approaches must be inclusive and equitable, in accordance with the three dimensions of sustainable development. The HLPE report analyzed a number of agroecological and other innovative approaches, including those that place more emphasis on holistic solutions and those that focus on specific outcomes, often measured quantitatively. The HLPE report highlights the importance of policy contexts because they shape the behavior of agriculture and food system actors. According to the HLPE report, beyond production levels and revenues, policies should take a holistic approach that also prioritizes human rights, in particular the progressive realization of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security, sustainability and equity concerns, food security, food safety and nutrition. Some policies and research funding have supported less sustainable practices. According to the HLPE report, agroecological approaches, which have shown promising results, tend to be under-researched and under-funded worldwide. Public policies, research and investment are urgently needed for more sustainable and comprehensive approaches, including for agroecological and other innovative approaches. Improvements in policy frameworks can best be guided by an integrated approach to food systems that includes taking stock of the relevant sectoral policies, mapping and analyzing synergies and trade-offs and externalities within and among the economic, social and environmental dimensions.