
This thematic area aims to develop climate-smart strategies to improve the level, efficiency, and sustainability of nutrient-rich food production and consumption.
A sustainable food system is one that delivers food and nutrition security for all peoples at all times in a manner that the social, economic, and environmental structures that sustain its ability to benefit future generations are not compromised. Thus, food systems are inherently complex and link social and environmental elements at both local and global scales. Nutritional security is ultimately an outcome of the global food system layered on local constraints to production, distribution, and regulatory policy.
Food and nutrition security for a given population rely on the local capacity for production and importation of those commodities not available due to limitations of the location. In grappling with food and nutrition security it is critical to move beyond simply maximizing yields and production. Addressing nutrition security, we need to look beyond calories and see our food with a nutritional lens to enhance health and well-being. Whereas grain and oilseed production are amenable to a more stable global supply chain, the production and consumption of nutrient-rich foods are often subject to significantly higher barriers to availability and access.
This shift in focus challenges both researchers and citizens to consider nutrient-dense foods such as animal-source foods (livestock and fish), legumes, nuts, and fruits/vegetables and the value chains that make them accessible to some and unattainable for others. Production, access, and consumption patterns are vital components to study to understand where barriers to access exist. New models and metrics are required to assess and compare these new systems with current systems to find novel approaches to improve access and resilience.
Activities to pursue initially within this focus area include:
Other activities to explore:
GFSI Lead for the Global and Local Food and Nutrition Security Thematic Area is Juan Andrade