A transformation of food systems is urgently needed, possible, and offers enormous economic benefits

Our food systems — the way we produce, market, and consume food — are part of the political, social, economic, ecological, and cultural fabric of our communities. They have achieved something of a miracle, keeping pace with decades of population growth while decreasing some forms of malnutrition, reducing poverty and increasing life expectancy. But progress has been uneven around the world. And the recent evolution of food systems has fuelled – and continues to inflame – some of the greatest and gravest challenges facing humanity, notably persistent hunger, undernutrition, the obesity epidemic, loss of biodiversity, environmental damage and climate change. The economic value of this human suffering and planetary harm is well above 10 trillion USD1 a year, more than food systems contribute to global GDP. In short, our food systems are destroying more value than they create.

Ignoring the consequences of today’s food systems locks the world onto a course that escalates their negative effects disastrously. Yet in many policy discussions, such as those around climate change, food systems have long been ignored. Concerns for food affordability and the livelihoods of hundreds of millions who depend on food systems, the power of large-scale players, and divergent views among stakeholders about what sustainable food systems look like have all contributed to make food systems something of an exception. Today there is an opportunity for policymakers to raise the level of ambition. Transforming food systems worldwide provides a uniquely powerful means of addressing the global climate, nature and health emergencies while offering a better life to hundreds of millions of people.