Leveraging science to minimize policy trade-offs and maximize synergies for enhanced food security

Today saw the Briefing to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on science-based evidence in support of sustainable solutions, convened by UNGA President Csaba Kőrösi, gathering eminent scientists and academics to foster discussions on sustainable solutions.

Structured around three panel discussions, the briefing served to discuss moving beyond economic growth and gross domestic product measurements to measure prosperity, food security and sustainable transformations, and scientific support systems with the UN at large.

Participating at the second panel discussion on food security and sustainable transformations was Corinna Hawkes, the Director of the FAO Food Systems and Food Safety Division, who spoke to a precedent of policy and investment efforts that aim to achieve food security through sufficient food production and trade, but that has been littered with unintended consequences for environment, society and health.

In her presentation, she spoke on the need to have sustainable solutions for food security anchored in the premise that a whole-of-systems approach – across the agrifood system – is central to safeguarding food security for all while delivering on important socioeconomic and environmental global goals.

From addressing the water-food-energy nexus to preventing biodiversity loss in the face of climate change, Hawkes also spoke on the interconnectedness of food security, natural resource management and climate actions.

“If the solutions are to be sustainable, they have to come from a sustainable agrifood system,” she said, pointing to the need for an agrifood system that delivers enough, safe and nutritious food for all in such a way that the social, economic and environmental foundations to provide for that food today are not compromised to deliver food – and a healthy planet and a working ecosystem – tomorrow for future generations.

Moving away from old siloed thinking is critical, the FAO Director added. Science-based evidence can inform decisions on not only how to ensure global food security through improved productivity gains, but also on how to minimize inevitable trade-offs and maximize potential synergies, looking “to optimize gains for food security and other goals, such as nutrition, food safety, climate action, water, gender equality and poverty reduction”.

Hawkes also presented a range of different available methods across disciplines that can formulate and help disseminate this science-based evidence, including modelling, true cost accounting and qualitative analysis of stakeholder perspectives. Each one, the FAO Director explained, can help guide the way to inform decisions for more sustainable solutions to achieve food security while also addressing policy imperatives around climate change, food loss and waste, nutrition, food safety and more.

 Related links

• Learn more about FAO’s work on food systems and food safety and quality.
• Did you miss the event? Watch the recording here (Part I) and here (Part II), read more here, or revisit the presentation by the FAO Director.