Global food systems grapple with challenges that demand urgent attention and innovative solutions. The world’s population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, with significant growth in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia, implying more pressure on agricultural land, water resources and food production systems. Increasing urbanisation, leading to the concentration of populations in cities, affects food security and equitable access to nutritious food for urban residents. Moreover, changing dietary preferences, driven by urbanisation, income growth and globalisation, are contributing to the rise of resource-intensive diets high in animal products and processed foods. This shift not only strains agricultural resources and exacerbates environmental degradation but also fuels health crises related to obesity, malnutrition and diet-related diseases.

Food systems face the challenge of adapting to the impacts of climate change, including shifting weather patterns, extreme weather events, and changing pest and disease dynamics. Climate-related disruptions threaten agricultural productivity, disrupt supply chains, and exacerbate food insecurity, particularly in vulnerable regions already struggling with poverty, conflict and resource constraints. Additionally, food systems are threatened by soil and water degradation, and biodiversity loss, undermining their resilience and the provision of ecosystem services.

The application of conventional agriculture, characterised by intensive monoculture cropping, chemical inputs and mechanisation, falls short in addressing the multifaceted needs of a rapidly changing world. While conventional agriculture has historically contributed to increasing food production and alleviating hunger, its reliance on resource-intensive practices has led to environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity and social inequities.