Pursuing Food Systems Transformation Despite Financial Constraints - Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition.

13 December 2023. @03:00 PM CET Pursuing Food Systems Transformation Despite Financial
Constraints - Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition.

Leaders in all low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are facing an immediate dilemma. The need to transform their food systems is growing ever more urgent to deliver on hunger and nutrition, climate change adaptation, and sustainability. Moreover, universal access to diets that are affordable, healthy, and sustainable is a prerequisite to deliver on green growth, poverty reduction, and equity. Yet at the same time, LMICs are experiencing ever-tightening financial resources, as the growing debt crisis and inflation bite ever deeper.

Transforming food systems across the world will be costly. Though not all decisions require heavy investment. In this webinar, we discuss a surprisingly diverse range of actions that are relatively low-cost, or even cost-neutral as put forth by the Global Panel in their policy brief on ‘Pursuing food system transformation despite financial constraints’.

• Tom Arnold, Irish Government’s Special Envoy for Food Systems. Tom Arnold is Chair of a Task Force on Rural Africa established by the European Commission in May 2018.
• Patrick Webb, Director of Food Systems for Nutrition Innovation Lab, Tufts University; Technical Advisor for Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition
• Adeyinka Onabolu, Senior Advisor on Food Security & Nutrition – GAIN
• Amos Laar, Professor of Public Health Nutrition – University of Ghana
• Shibani Ghosh, Associate Director of Food Systems for Nutrition Innovation Lab, Tufts University

Resources:

Global Panel (2023) Pursuing food system transformation despite financial constraints policy brief
September 2023 # 19 pages

This latest policy brief from the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition sets out a surprisingly diverse range of actions that are relatively low-cost, or even cost-neutral. Indeed, some have the potential to leverage very substantial resources beyond those available to individual governments. Taken together, these actions may not be sufficient to fully deliver on the food-system transformation, but they will provide a solid and substantial foundation on which to build a broader coherent strategy.

Leadership from the highest levels of government will be essential to drive forward many of the actions suggested in this brief, not least to ensure that government departments and agencies at national and local levels that need to work in concert are incentivised and empowered to do so. With that support and direction, policy makers in LMICs (and HICs) can drive substantial progress in transforming their food systems despite financial constraints. Together, these will form an important component of a broad and coherent strategy for change.

FAO (2023) Achieving SDG2 without breaching the 1.5C threshold A Global Roadmap

Extracts

It has been estimated that in Africa alone, the transformation of food systems, including associated agribusinesses, could deliver up to US$ 1 trillion by 2030 (page 4)

One specific action would be to ensure that the country’s food-based dietary guidelines are updated to embody the best science and evidence, and take account of new concerns, for example on the environment and climate change. There also needs to be a commitment to use those updated guidelines,
not just to inform consumer choices, but also to guide policy development across relevant parts of government. (page 10)

Governments typically buy substantial amounts of food for use in institutional settings such as schools, hospitals, the military, prisons and canteens for public-sector workers. Increased demand arising
from procurement would encourage increases in the production and processing of nutrient-rich foods. Enhanced nutrition in schools would promote better health in children and reduce healthcare costs, while acting to raise educational outcomes. (page 12)

Specific priorities include: (page 12)

• – Actions that would increase the supply of nutrient-rich foods through sustainable and resilient farming systems.
• – Research into ‘what works’ in terms of delivering food system transformation aimed at delivering of the multiple targets embedded in the ‘1.5+’ agenda (which addresses climate change alongside challenges associated with other planetary boundaries). 4 This research needs to be context-specific, recognising that individual countries face different challenges and constraints, and may need to resolve different trade-offs.
• – Research to identify the most effective ways to influence dietary choices of consumers in LMIC settings

A low-cost solution for reducing cassava losses in Nigeria: NRICassavaBag has been developed and tested in the field in Nigeria and proven to be effective at maintaining root quality for at least eight days at a minimum cost. This bag has the potential to benefit to nearly 30 million smallholder farmers in Nigeria alone. (page 13)

Large food companies continue to focus too much of their business on ultra-processed foods.  Businesses in the food sector should be encouraged – or compelled – to publish progress towards clear and meaningful targets. That needs to be a key consideration as governments weigh the balance they should strike between incentives and regulation, for example in areas such as marketing of ultra-processed foods to consumers in general, and children in particular. (page 13)

The 3FS tool, co-developed by IFAD and the World Bank, seeks to provide governments, donors and
stakeholders with much-needed evidence for smart investment decisions.45 It helps to answer questions such as how much financing goes towards the food system. A report being led by IFAD on financing flows for food systems, and an excellent model and tracking system launched at the recent UNFSS +2 Stocktaking Moment in Rome are both valuable and timely resources for policy makers. (page 15)

InsectiPro – converting food waste into animal protein 

InsectiPro is a Kenyan start-up business which rears black soldier fly larvae for animal feed. In the 10 days it takes for them to grow, the larvae need to be fed, and fruit waste from factories and food markets in the capital, Nairobi, provides an ideal feed. In effect, the business turns green waste from Nairobi into high-value animal protein. The farm processes around 20 to 30 tonnes per day of fruit waste and produces 2 to 2.5 tonnes of larvae, which are then dried and turned into animal feed. Any remaining waste is used as manure, some of it on their own farm, and the rest is sold to neighbouring farms. (page 14)

InsectiPro, now employs 78 people and makes a profit, combining profitability and sustainability.