The Role of Food Systems in Shaping Diets and Addressing Malnutrition: Delivering on the Sustainable Development Agenda.

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the role of food systems in improving diets and addressing all forms of malnutrition, drawing on the experience of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and its partners. Firstly, it highlights the growing momentum for food systems' contribution to nutrition outcomes, against a recent resurgence in the number of people suffering from hunger, slow progress in stunting among children, and the emergence of an obesity crisis and related health implications. Secondly, it reviews the Global Panel and CFS-HLPE conceptual frameworks linking food systems to diet and nutrition, as these have significant implications for identifying nutrition-oriented food systems policies and actions. Thirdly, the paper illustrates recent initiatives that support global food systems governance and policy coherence. This includes the CFS multi-stakeholder process for the development of Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems for Nutrition and five FAO regional symposia on "Sustainable Food Systems for Healthy Diets and Improved Nutrition." Fourthly, the paper provides examples of how the development of food systems policy options is being supported at country level, and in particular how various policy options are being framed (IFPRI, Nuffield Council, World Bank). Lastly, the need to build the evidence base at global and country levels to inform food systems policy options is put into sharp focus, using examples from IFPRI's development of a research agenda for healthier diets in Ethiopia, the annual State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, and the FAO/WHO Global Individual Food Consumption Data Tool platform.