How can FAO better support countries in addressing governance of agrifood systems transformation to make them more sustainable, inclusive and resilient?
For some years now, there has been a growing recognition of the urgent need to transform agrifood systems to make them more sustainable, resilient, inclusive, and equitable.
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What do we understand by agrifood systems and a systems approach? “The agri-food system covers the journey of food (for example, cereals, vegetables, fish, fruits and livestock) from farm to table – including when it is grown, harvested, processed, packaged, transported, distributed, traded, bought, prepared, eaten and disposed of. It also encompasses non-food products (for example forestry, animal rearing, use of feedstock, biomass to produce biofuels, and fibres) that also constitute livelihoods and all of the people as well as the activities, investments and choices that play a part in getting us these food and agricultural products.” (nf243en.pdf (fao.org) 42nd session of the FAO conference): Recognizing that systems are made up of a complex set of interrelated components that produce multiple goals, a systems approach helps a diverse set of actors to understand how systems are structured and how they operate. By collectively mapping out its different components, identifying drivers and the connections between them, and setting out possible courses of action, it can help to clarify what are the issues at stake and where decisions need to be taken. |
Agrifood systems can play an important role in rescuing and accelerating progress towards the SDGs; sustainable and resilient agrifood systems have enormous potential to positively influence the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. The endorsement by the CFS of the Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition (VGFSN)[1] in 2021 was followed by the convening of the UN Food Systems Summit in September 2021, and more recently, the UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment in July 2023. While there seems to be general agreement and consensus on the need to transform agrifood systems to make them more sustainable, resilient, inclusive, and equitable, the policy, legal and governance[2] requirements and implications for countries still need to be better articulated. Decades of development efforts around the world have shown that narrow approaches and technological quick fixes do not work, especially in the long term. Data, technology, and innovation can be a powerful engine to transform agrifood systems, but only when they are accompanied by the right enabling environment and governance system. As the UN Secretary General stated in his report[3], the path towards transformation requires “comprehensive planning, collaboration, and consideration of potential trade-offs, synergies, and international spillovers” and “countries will need to address the resistance and political backlash that may arise against change”.
In efforts towards a transformation of agrifood systems, some of the main barriers to overcome include the lack of policy coherence and coordination, insufficient capabilities and engagement of key stakeholders, increasing gender inequalities and socio-economic disparities within and among countries and the asymmetry of power and economic interests that are at the core of the political economy and the control of the agrifood system. For example, measures that seek to protect biodiversity and mitigate climate change may affect the rights of those with the lowest incomes and those who depend on natural resources for their livelihoods; measures that seek to combat obesity through stricter regulation may affect the economic interests of private companies that sell ultra-processed products, and a progressive paradigm shift in agricultural production from an external input-dependent agriculture to a more sustainable, less chemical-dependent agriculture that prioritizes the production of more diverse foods for local consumption to meet both livelihood and community nutrition objectives- still seems to run counter to the dominant model.
Furthermore, in many cases, policies and laws are not aligned with the transformative goals, and not adapted to existing, institutional arrangements, political structures, raising inequalities and capabilities. Yet, these strongly influence the chances for them to be implemented (or not) on the ground and generate desired outcomes.
Conveners:
Corinna Hawkes, Director, Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division (ESF)
Donata Rugarabamu, Legal Counsel
Stefanos Fotiou, Director, Office of SDGs (OSG)
RATIONALE FOR THIS CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
The above issues influence the FAO’s capacity to appropriately support country-members in the design and implementation of transformative paths towards sustainable agrifood systems. It is therefore key for the Organization to continue to reflect on what it means for it to approach food and agriculture relevant policies as a “system”, rather than as multiple actions towards a common goal.
It is against this background that this online call for submissions is being organized jointly by the Office of SDGs, the Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division, the Governance and Policy Support Unit, and the Development Law Service, to engage various stakeholders and gather examples of governance-related measures and interventions with transformative impact for agrifood systems.
We invite you to provide inputs related to the following kind of measures/interventions:
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Institutional mechanisms/governance arrangements for systems-oriented ways of working;
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Measures to align policies and laws with the transformative goals;
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Budgeting and financing for cross-sectoral work in agrifood systems;
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Measures to rebalance asymmetries in power and decision-making in the agrifood system, including through gender-responsive and gender-transformative approaches;
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Measures to redress inequities and inequalities in the agrifood systems;
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Concrete means and evidence of how the impact of these measures has been measured.
The submissions should look at transformative efforts in the above areas, from an economic, social and environmental perspective, and they should illustrate the way this transformative change[4] has been potentially documented and measured.
The results emerging from your submissions will contribute to informing FAO’s work with governments and other stakeholders related to policy, law, and governance for more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems.
Proceedings of the contributions received will be made publicly available on this consultation webpage. Feel free to consult the documentation and resources for more information about agrifood systems transformation in the references.
The Call for Submissions is open until 1 April 2024.
How to take part in this Call for Submissions
To take part in this Call for submissions, please register to the FSN Forum, if you are not yet a member, or “sign in” to your account. Please download the submission template in any of six UN languages (English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic and Chinese) and upload the completed form in the box “Post your contribution” on this webpage. Please keep the length of submissions limited to 2,000 words and feel also free to attach relevant supporting materials. For any technical questions or assistance please contact [email protected].
We thank you in advance for your input and we look forward to learning from your experiences.
Co-facilitators:
Dubravka Bojic, Programme Officer, Governance and Policy Unit (DDCG)
Jose Valls, Policy Officer, ESF
Margret Vidar, Legal Officer, Development Law Service (LEGN)
Hajnalka Petrics, Programme Officer, OSG
Olena Ovchynnikova, Technical Officer, OSG
[1] The CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition (VGFSN) were endorsed by CFS session 47 held on 8-11 February 2021. CFS_VGs_Food_Systems_and_Nutrition_Strategy_EN.pdf (fao.org)
[2] Governance relates to “formal and informal rules, organizations, and processes through which public and private actors articulate their interests and make and implement decisions” (http://www.fao.org/3/mg015e/mg015e.pdf )
[3] Making food systems work for people and planet UN Food Systems Summit +2 Report of the Secretary-General. p.20. unfss2-secretary-general-report.pdf (unfoodsystemshub.org)
[4] Please note that “transformative change” refers to innovative, pro-active changes away from “business as usual” that merely addresses surface-level issues or symptoms. “Transformative change” results in change in underlying factors and drivers leading to problems addressed.
REFERENCES
- CFS, 2023. Voluntary Guidelines on Gender Equality and Women’s and Girls Empowerment in the Context of Food Security and Nutrition.
- CFS, 2021. CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition.
- FAO, 2018. Transforming Food and Agriculture to Achieve the SDGs. 20 interconnected actions to guide decision-makers.
- FAO, 2021. Transforming agri-food systems. Legislative interventions for improved nutrition and sustainability Preliminary version for public consultation.
- Bojić, D., Clark, M. and Urban, K. 2022. Focus on governance for more effective policy and technical support. Governance and policy support framework paper. Rome, FAO.
- Gobena, A. and Vidar, M. 2023. Agriculture and natural resources governance – Legal tools for inclusive and sustainable transformation. Legal Brief, No. 12. Rome, FAO.
- FAO. 2023. FAO and the Sustainable Development Goals. Achieving the 2030 Agenda through empowerment of local communities. Rome. FAO.
- UN. 2023. Global Sustainable Development Report 2023. Times of Crisis, Times of Change. Science for Accelerating Transformations to Sustainable Development. UNDESA.
Please read the article of FAO publications on this topic here.
Topics
- Read 89 contributions
Je propose que la FAO lance des appels à projets après avoir mis en place un secrétariat comme le fait actuellement le G20 , après sélection des projets ce secrétariat qui sera doté d'un budget dédié au financement de projets travaillera en étroite collaboration avec leurs représentons par pays et les Gouvernements de ces pays pour aider les promoteurs identifié à implémenter leurs projets à grande échelle avec l'assistance financière delà FAO et l'assistance technique des experts de la FAO et des gouvernements respectifs.
Toute fois les projets déjà existant dans la base de données de la FAO doivent être être doivent être enrôlé dans ce programme.
Prof. Ahmad Mahdavi
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) can better support countries in addressing governance of agrifood systems transformation by providing technical assistance, capacity building, policy advice, and facilitating knowledge sharing among countries. FAO can help countries develop and implement policies and strategies that promote sustainable, inclusive, and resilient agrifood systems.
One way FAO can support countries is by assisting in the development of multi-stakeholder platforms that bring together government, private sector, civil society, and other actors to collaborate on addressing governance challenges in agrifood systems. FAO can also help countries strengthen their institutions and regulatory frameworks to ensure effective governance of agrifood systems.
Additionally, FAO can support countries in monitoring and evaluating the impact of their policies and interventions on agrifood systems transformation, and provide guidance on how to improve their approaches based on evidence and best practices.
For more information on how FAO supports countries in addressing governance of agrifood systems transformation, you can visit the FAO website at: http://www.fao.org/governance-of-agrifood-systems-transformation.
Dr. Vijay Singh Meena
Reflecting on the intervention/measure discussed above, it's evident that the journey towards transforming agrifood systems for sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience is multifaceted, challenging, yet immensely promising. At its core lies a profound commitment to fostering positive change, empowering communities, and advancing the global agenda for sustainable development. Here, I delve into personal reflections on the key messages and takeaways gleaned from this intervention, interwoven with relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Inclusivity emerges as a foundational principle, underpinned by the imperative to prioritize marginalized communities' needs and voices. This resonates deeply with SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), embodying a commitment to leave no one behind in the pursuit of sustainable development. By ensuring equitable access to resources, opportunities, and decision-making processes, we lay the groundwork for a more just and inclusive agrifood system.
Sustainability emerges as a guiding ethos, necessitating a holistic approach that transcends narrow economic interests and embraces the interconnectedness of environmental, social, and economic dimensions. This aligns closely with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), emphasizing the imperative to adopt regenerative agricultural practices, mitigate climate change impacts, and safeguard natural resources for future generations.
Empowerment emerges as a potent catalyst for change, embodied in efforts to build farmers' capacities, elevate their agency, and foster participatory approaches to decision-making. This mirrors the spirit of SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), emphasizing the transformative potential of empowering women, enhancing livelihoods, and promoting inclusive governance in agrifood systems.
Collaboration emerges as a linchpin for success, underscoring the importance of forging partnerships among diverse stakeholders to leverage collective expertise, resources, and networks. This echoes the essence of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), emphasizing the power of collaboration in mobilizing global action, fostering knowledge exchange, and catalyzing transformative change in agrifood systems.
Adaptation emerges as an imperative, necessitating a nimble, iterative approach to address evolving challenges and opportunities in agrifood systems. This reflects the ethos of resilience embedded within SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), highlighting the importance of innovation, technology transfer, and adaptive management practices in building resilient food systems.
Accountability emerges as a cornerstone of effective governance, epitomized by robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms that track progress, measure impact, and ensure transparency and accountability. This echoes the ethos of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), emphasizing the importance of accountable institutions, rule of law, and transparent governance in advancing sustainable development goals.
In essence, the intervention/measure serves as a poignant reminder of the transformative potential inherent within agrifood systems to drive positive change, promote human well-being, and safeguard planetary health. As we navigate the complexities and uncertainties of the 21st century, let us heed these key messages and takeaways, forging a collective path towards a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future for all.
The Seqota declaration is the Ethiopian government’s commitment to end stunting in children under two by the year 2030. It is a multisectoral and multistakholders’ initiative to implement nutrition sensitive, nutrition specific and climate smart infrastructure interventions. The declaration adapts the food system approach and has a 15 years’ road map divided into three phases; innovation, expansion and scale-up phases. Currently, the expansion phase is under implementation in 240 woredas (districts) throughout the country.
Contribution from Bukenya Godfrey
Romaka ventures Limited
Uganda
Here are some potential ways FAO can better support countries in addressing governance of agrifood systems transformation:
1. Enhance stakeholder engagement and inclusivity:
- Facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues and platforms where diverse actors (farmers, private sector, civil society, policymakers) can voice their needs and collaboratively develop solutions.
- Support capacity building of marginalized groups (women, youth, indigenous communities) to strengthen their participation in decision-making processes.
- Promote transparency and accountability mechanisms in governance structures.
2. Offer tailored guidance and tools:
- Develop context-specific toolkits and guidelines on effective governance arrangements for various agrifood system challenges (e.g., sustainable production, climate change adaptation, food security).
- Conduct needs assessments and provide technical assistance to countries in designing and implementing their own agrifood system transformation plans.
- Support knowledge exchange and learning platforms where countries can share best practices and challenges related to governance.
3. Strengthen legal and policy frameworks:
- Assist countries in reviewing and revising existing policies and laws to align with sustainable and inclusive agrifood system goals.
- Support the development of new legislation and regulations that address emerging challenges (e.g., digitalization, access to land and water).
- Advocate for international policies that promote equitable and sustainable food systems globally.
4. Invest in data and evidence-based decision-making:
- Support countries in collecting and analyzing data on various aspects of their agrifood systems (e.g., production, consumption, trade, nutrition).
- Build capacity for data analysis and interpretation to inform effective policy and investment decisions.
- Develop monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track progress towards national and international food system goals.
5. Leverage financial resources and partnerships:
- Mobilize financial resources from diverse sources (public, private, philanthropic) to support governance-related initiatives in agrifood systems transformation.
- Foster partnerships with other international organizations, research institutions, and NGOs to leverage expertise and resources.
- Advocate for increased investments in international cooperation and development assistance to support developing countries in achieving sustainable food systems.
Under the present governance system, focus of the public sector organization has been on: i) Livestock Extension, breeding and health coverage; ii) Livestock Research, vaccine, diagnosis and nutrition; iii) Livestock Education, veterinary medicine; iv) Agric Extension/Research, Fodder/Crops Production & Mngt; v) Deputy Commissioner, price capping, no Quality Control; vi) Legal courts, export ban; vii) SMEDA, little focused attempts; viii) KPCCI, low priority; ix) Public Health Services, low priority; x) ORIC Offices of Universities, underutilized. It has led to missing entrepreneurship/ exports/ Quality Control/ Traceability/ Halal aspects of the livestock-based food value chain.
As National Consultant FAO (Livestock), this author suggested establishment of LTs under KP Livestock Action Plan 2019, as autonomous bodies which would explore and enhance the capacity of the public sector organizations to support entrepreneurship development across the Livestock Value Chain. It will contribute to Environmental Sustainability through good practices, Social Sustainability through empowerment of the farmers’ community and Economic Sustainability through development of a network of entrepreneurship models in livestock farming, products processing and service delivery, targeted at generation of decent employment and exportable food surpluses.
The principle of "Thinking Globally, Acting Locally" profoundly aligns with the Dairy Science Park's mission, aiming to harness livestock resources to create a network of entrepreneurial models that generate sustainable employment and exportable surpluses. Despite facing resistance from influential stakeholders in large-scale projects, the initiative has found strong support among stakeholders throughout the livestock value chain, particularly those striving for survival and advancement.
This transformative vision originated from discussions between Prof M Subhan Qureshi and Dr. Abdur Rahman Ilyas at the 2010 Industrial Biotech Conference in Cairo, culminating in the establishment of the "Dairy Science Park" in 2011 at the University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan. Since its inception, the initiative has garnered backing from local farming communities, allied sectors, Chief Minister GoKP, and esteemed international organizations like FAO-UN, ITC-UN, and ASRT-Egypt, underscoring its broad recognition and endorsement.
Despite receiving support across various fronts, tangible implementation in the public sector remains pending. Nonetheless, private partners and individuals have embraced the concept, albeit on a limited scale, delving into the industrial aspects of livestock resources to promote entrepreneurship. This endeavor has already yielded the production of Halal and hygienic foods/biotech products for both local and international markets.
The transformative potential of converting livestock resources into entrepreneurial models through livestock technoparks extends beyond borders and offers promise for replication in numerous developing countries and regions, signaling a pathway toward sustainable economic development.
We feel based on the President Javier Milei's character and ingenuity and Argentina's agricultural potential and history that Argentina COULD BE a primary leader by great distance to martial in the diverse agriculture, that all of us real naturalists, and nutritionists, know we need!
We are in Buenos Aires now soliciting a consultation. Look at the attached .pdf to get in contact.
Subject: Proposal to Revolutionize Argentina's Agricultural Sector
Dear Administration of Argentina of Javier Milei,
I am writing to you on behalf of Nutritional Diversity, an entity deeply committed to advancing sustainable and innovative agricultural practices worldwide. Our mission is to foster environments where both agriculture and nutrition flourish, in harmony with nature, to build healthier societies. It is with great enthusiasm that we reach out to the Argentine government under the visionary leadership of President Javier Milei, to propose a collaboration aimed at transforming Argentina into a global beacon of agricultural innovation and nutritional excellence.
Argentina, with its rich agricultural history and vast, fertile lands, stands at the cusp of a new era. The country's potential to lead in the production of diverse, nutritious food is unparalleled, and we believe that through strategic partnership, we can unlock this potential to not only benefit Argentina but also set a precedent for the rest of the world. Our proposal is twofold, focusing on the introduction of tested diverse agricultural alternatives, and the cultivation of a culture of responsibility and care for nature.
Innovative Agricultural Practices: Leveraging the latest in agricultural science, we propose to introduce cutting-edge, sustainable farming techniques that diversify crop production beyond traditional staples. This includes the adoption of permaculture, agroforestry, and regenerative agricultural practices that improve soil health, increase biodiversity, and yield higher nutritional value crops. Our goal is to demonstrate that diversified agriculture is not only viable but superior in creating resilient food systems.
A Culture of Health and Sustainability: Beyond transforming agricultural practices, we aim to instill a nationwide culture of health, fitness, responsibility, and care for nature. This involves educational initiatives targeting all levels of society, from farmers to consumers, highlighting the importance of nutrition, environmental stewardship, and sustainable consumption patterns. By aligning agriculture with health and environmental goals, Argentina can pioneer a model for a society that values and practices holistic well-being.
We are convinced that under President Milei's leadership, Argentina is perfectly positioned to embrace these changes, fostering innovation and setting new standards for what is possible in agriculture and society at large. Our team at [Your Organization/Company Name] is eager to bring our expertise, resources, and passion to this partnership, working closely with your government to tailor these initiatives to Argentina's unique context and needs.
We believe that together, we can create a legacy of health, sustainability, and prosperity that will inspire generations to come. We are keen to discuss this proposal further and explore how we can align our efforts with Argentina's vision for the future.
Thank you for considering this partnership. We look forward to the opportunity to contribute to Argentina's journey towards becoming the healthiest society with the most responsible and caring approach to nature.
Sincerely,
Dear Colleagues,
Congratulation to your idea for „a better support of countries in addressing governance of agrifood systems“. I think, it may be very helpful to develop simple methods for practical training of the most successful methods. This may possible by simple teaching materials and to demonstrate simple, but successful methods under typical farm conditions.
I will add some ideas/examples:
- More practical excersises with farmers under farm conditions instead of theoretical courses
- Availability of simple study-materials for farmers (text with some figures)
- Experimental fields/gardens for training of farmers (see very impressive examples in India or some other countries)
- Use of local materials/by-products as fertilizer (no burning of straw and other by-products) and/or animal feed
- Plant protection (insects etc.)
Best regards
Gerhard Flachowsky
Prof. Dr. G. Flachowsky
Germany
This activity is now closed. Please contact [email protected] for any further information.