Food Systems Innovation Hubs in Low-and-Middle-Income Countries

Abstract

Our food systems are under pressure and failing us. This failure includes the inability to (a) produce and deliver high-quality diets to meet nutritional needs, (b) produce equal and equitable benefits, and (c) mitigate negative consequences. This paper aims to draw attention to the role that Food Systems Innovation Hubs can play in creating healthy, resilient and inclusive communities in LMICs. First, eight different archetypes of food innovation hubs are described. Future opportunities for these hubs to deliver planet-friendly nutritious and safe foods are then explored. It is argued that the complexity of food systems calls for context-specific transformations, and that innovation hubs have a key role to play here. Three key actions are identified as essential for developing effective Food Systems Innovation Hubs in LMICs: Inspire! Invest! and Innovate!