submitted by Dr Jemina Moeng on behalf of the team.
Input by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) Food Security Team
Introduction: Hidden costs are like a vicious cycle as they cost more in the future than in the present, making attempts to achieve sustainable development impossible.
To effectively incorporate the hidden costs and benefits of agrifood systems into decision-making requires:
- Recognition of the strengths and weaknesses in the current food systems, what purpose they serve, who they serve and whether they enable progress towards achieving the national goals.
- The most affected populations by hidden costs of agrifood systems should be identified e.g. the vulnerable, rural and peri urban. The food insecurity and vulnerability assessments should be constantly undertaken. These assessments should further analyse coping mechanisms of people that should be understood for informing agrifood systems decisions and proper targeting of the most affected.
- All role players in agrifood systems including all spheres of government, business, non-government actors, researchers and communities must integrate and streamline policies and legislation and national frameworks based on the agreed upon hidden costs and benefits of agri-food systems.
- The point of departure is recognition of the power of collective action and a need to forge powerful partnerships and creating mutually reinforcing and appropriate interventions.
- Inclusion of Traditional Leaders in cases of rural settings is critical to ensure that the communal areas and communities are consulted upon, noting that indigenous knowledge will enrich the policy process for transformation.
Thank you
CDFS Team
الدكتور Jemina Moeng