The Transition Steps Needed to Transform Our Food Systems

Abstract

Today’s food systems are asked to nourish the world’s growing population in ways that do no harm to either human or planetary health. However, the growing problems facing food systems now amount to a two-fold crisis. Developing such a plan, and implementing it effectively, presents massive challenges which must cut through the complexity of food systems and competing priorities. It will need to navigate a path through powerful forces and vested interests which might favour the status quo and impede policy change. It must also be affordable at a time when countries are still grappling with the economic catastrophe of COVID-19. The transition needs to be viewed with realism, rather than being an abstract ideal. Global leadership must, however, be supplemented with and supported by national, regional, and local level initiatives which bring together public, private, and civil society actors around the priorities that are most urgent, feasible, and essential for food system transformation.