Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

First of all, let me express thanks to those who has prepared the draft and to those who has arranged the online consultation.  

It is essential to outline the importance of timely prepared draft  and arranged discussions on Sustainable Food Systems. Since 2015 different actions have been taken towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) many of which are linked and addressed to sustainable food systems and its components.

Definition and approaches. A sustainable food system is a collaborative network that integrates several components in order to enhance a community's environmental, economic and social well-being. It is built on principles that further the ecological, social and economic values of a community and region. (Pothukuchi and Jufman, 1999.)

The reference document reflects the above classical definition and even goes beyond it since it is supposed to be a platform or guidance for all working under the issue of sustainable food security and nutrition linked to social inclusiveness, right to food and conservative use of natural resources in a rational and stable manner. At the same time it draws in the center of all the consumption and production patterns in the area of food and agriculture with balanced environment and rural livelihood. Therefore, it will be better to emphasize and articulate to role of agriculture as a basis of sustainable food system (SFS) and at the same time make it  has be easy for reading able and understandable for all actors, and first of all farmers, small and medium food producers, and consumers. 

The main sense of SFS is its socio-economic value in terms of human needs and economic results based on resilience and environment protection oriented to a positive or neutral impact on the natural resources environment (environmental sustainability).

Structure of SFS. On the other hand, SFS is a wide comprehensive complex of components, activities, outcomes and drivers. For example, based on using of the natural resources for producing and consuming food these systems serve social needs and norms in different cultural, economic and political environments which comprehensively influence dietary preferences. To some extent the sustainability of food system depends on financial and infrastructural factors including overall arrangements of financial system (currency fluctuation, limitation of financial flows, stability of banking sector and financial markets etc.) and international infrastructure (IT, transport routes, stoking facilities, stocking technology etc.). Therefore, in the components of SFSs the financial and infrastructural subcomponents on GEO component has to be included.

Activities. Food systems involve a multitude of people depending on food to consume and generate income (producers, processors, retailers and consumers governments, NGOs, agriculture and health officers, teachers, etc. Each of the listed groups has a different set of interest and power to influence food systems and play their own role in sustainability by using different types of instruments, institutions, regulations, subsidies, and laws through relative activities. From that point of view, among the activities listed in the scheme on page 10 it is suggested to add two more activities: stocking (after harvesting) and distributing (after marketing). Stocking is very important activity for stable provision of food and animal feed. Nowadays it requires a special attention due to limited facilities and climate change. For example, due to climate change the quality of stocks is very sensitive since possible impact of mycrotoxins etc. The activity, such as distributing, covers provision variety of food needed within sustainable diet to different location including remote areas. It also covers the principles, scope and net of social protection to poor and vulnerable consumers. It also plays a special role in the provision of equality. Therefore, these two activities are very important in the provision of the objectives of sustainable food systems.

Outcomes. In the set of outcomes of SFSs it will be good to show indicators for each outcome relevant to SDGs.  Food consumption is variably affected by a wide range of factors including food availability, food accessibility and food choice influenced by geography, demography, disposable income, socio-economic state, urbanization, trade liberalization, globalization, religion, culture, market fluctuation, and consumer attitude and behavior. These drivers result in several social, economic, health and environmental consequences on food consumption changes such as increase in nutrition-related NCDs, social inequalities, loss of biodiversity, climate change, fish stocks depletion, etc. All of them contribute to   food security linked to health through malnutrition, economic development, environment, infrastructure, trade and geopolitics. The absence of food security can have significant consequences for individuals and society in a whole, including malnutrition, obesity, disease, and poverty. Therefore, it is essential to emphasize the role and ways achieving food security and nutrition as results of well-functioning agri- food sector and SFS. In fact, food and nutrition security is not just producing sufficient food and to a certain extent encompasses the need in provision of access to food at all times for having the sustainable diet. Currently the aggregate production of food in the world is relatively enough for people but it is unequally distributed throughout territories and different social groups. Therefore, food insecurity and malnutrition (undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient malnutrition) problems are widespread. These as well as the social, economic and environmental negative impacts of the current food consumption patterns and diets highlight the inadequacy of the global food system.

Objectives and indicators. Achieving sustainable food security will require getting the priorities right and acting upon them. One of the main objectives of that has to be addressed to support right to food and food sovereignty. These priorities should necessarily include transition towards more sustainable food consumption patterns and diets. It requires working on both sides of the food chain i.e. food production and food consumption. The focus on sustainable diets integrated in a wider food system is original in this sense and helps to integrate different dimensions of food security and nutrition. However, diet itself does not reflect enough economic factors pushing people, in particular vulnerable ones, to follow up balanced diet recommendations due to access factor or infrastructural conditions (occurrence mycrotoxins or use of conservative or any other ingredients). Therefore, one of the instruments on the provision of SFS is a set an adequate indicators reflecting all components, activities, outputs and outcomes. It is also necessary for monitoring and analyzing SFS.  

The sustainability of food system has to be measured for further developing and implementing adequate food systems policy and cooperating with market based approach meaning market monitoring, market assessment and response analysis. How it might be measured is a question for further consideration and development.     

Recommendations

1. Sustainable food system is very comprehensive and complex issue that is reflected in the given draft. However, the links and interconnection between different approaches as well as their variations has to be more clearly elaborated and understandable for readers. It might be a more clear if visual instruments used for making it a more clear and transparent for all readers, actors etc. The difference between SFS and sustainable food chain is not clearly outlined. From my point of view, the first (SFSs) is more oriented to consumption while the second one is more about the circle from fields to its ending point.
2. Financial and infrastructural component on GEO component has to be included
3. In the part of activities two more activities have to be added (stocking and distributing).
4. One of the main objectives of SFS is the provision of food security that is not well enough expressed in parts of sustainable diet and sustainable food chain although it is clearly identified in SDG2 with its relevant components. It will be good to use universal or standardized approach in expression of main parts of SFS with referenced to SDGs and their indicators. With regard to food security its indicators has to be included in the part of sustainable diet.
5. For all parts of SFS, in particular of the part of sustainable diet, the social and economic indicators demonstrating sustainability such as poverty level, food budget, equality, literacy, and education level will help to outline the problems, purposes and ways to reach sustainability.
6. It is necessary to demonstrate or measure by relevant indicators each of approaches in particular sustainable food systems approach. It has to be done by using SDGs indicators with SDG1 and SDG2 as a core for reaching overall sustainability.   

In the draft there is also a request to add some definitions for categories of sustainable food systems. Please see my suggestions below.

Food types/ groups:

1. vegetables and legumes/beans
2. fruit
3. lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds, legumes/beans
4. grain (cereal) foods, mostly wholegrain and/or high cereal fibre varieties
5. milk, yoghurt, cheese and/or alternatives, mostly reduced fat.

Grouping of foods is based on the provision of similar amounts of key nutrients. For example, key nutrients of the milk, yoghurt, cheese and alternatives group include calcium and protein, while the fruit group is a good source of vitamins, especially vitamin C. (the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating, https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/food-variety-a…).

1. Sustainability information schemes – complex of tools and communication channels for timely and regularly producing, circulating and sharing of information by using new appropriate technology in assisting individuals, communities and all other actors of SFSs to meet their developmental needs.
2. Market-based approach – it is a mechanism for consideration changing conditions and requirements to direct limited human, financial, and natural resources into SFS in the most cost effective ways, programs and projects taking into account prices, profits and possible consequences for balancing socio-economic and environmental needs.