A policy index on healthy and sustainable food systems for governments – INFORMAS 2.0

Abstract

Abstract Issue/problem The rising burden of malnutrition in all its forms is driven by a global transition towards unhealthy ultra-processed food consumption patterns. As diets are shaped by food systems, political decision-makers are pressed to guarantee access to healthy diets for all, without harmful environment impacts. Description of the problem Scientific evidence on food policies implementation show a need to evaluate and benchmark government policies. Through a compilation of international recommendations, an ongoing scoping review, a Delphi study with policy experts and policy stakeholder interviews, the International Network for Food and Obesity/NCDs Research, Monitoring and Action Support (INFORMAS) aims to create a policy index to monitor governments' actions on sustainable food systems. Results International recommendations from evidence-based global reports (n = 22) on policies for healthy diets from sustainable food systems were compiled. A total of 413 recommendations were extracted and classified to define the components of the new index, structured in three domains (food supply chains, food environments, food consumption), two transversal domains (nutritional vulnerabilities, women's empowerment) and thirteen subdomains. The index addresses the key policy aspects of food systems to be shaped in order to create healthy diets from sustainable food systems. Lessons The policy recommendations included in the three domains and two transversal domains may have an impact on nutrition-related outcomes (e.g. stunting, wasting, diet quality, obesity), nutrition inequalities (e.g. socioeconomic) and environmental outcomes (e.g. biodiversity loss, greenhouse gas emissions, water use). Their impact will be assessed in a scoping review. In a next step, a Delphi study and interviews with stakeholders will be conducted to ultimately identify policies with double and triple duty potential to improve sustainable food systems and healthy diets. Key messages The index will provide an up-to-date overview of evidence-based policy recommendations on sustainable food systems. The index will represent a useful tool for national and local governments to track malnutrition in all its forms and nutrition inequalities, protecting the environment.