This study mapped countries worldwide that have established multisectoral food system governance institutions, to simultaneously advance social, environmental, and economic food system outcomes. The authors showcase the range of options that governments have when establishing a new multisectoral food system governance institution or strengthening existing ones.
They undertook a policy review of 197 countries, including validation by in-country experts. Institutions were excluded if they only focused solely on one major food system component or outcome (e.g., food waste, product reformulation); objectives across all three dimensions (environmental, social, economic) were not explicitly stated; or they did not include government agencies with primary mandates around food production, environment, or health.
- In this well-design easy-to-read FOUR-PAGER Dori Patay Belinda Reeve Anne Marie Thow et al. explain how 34 countries have ACTUALLY organised themselves to have governing institutions to steer food system transitions.
- In those countries, food politics, decision making and programmes go beyond siloed approaches by one single ministry (Ministry of Agriculture), and even beyond the sole responsability of the Government by enlarging the decision making space to encompass a whole-of-food system approach (including civil society, private actors or UN agencies).
- Multisectoral Mechanism Types are identified, including whole-of-government, whole-of-food systems and different arrangements between participation and decision making
- It provides a set of building blocks to custom fit the food systems governance and adapt it to the needs and current setting of each country.
