More Inclusive Food Systems And Innovative SMEs Take Center Stage At UN Food Systems Pre-Summit
by Daniela De Lorenzo | Forbes | Posted on 27 July 2021
Advancing a policy framework and innovative solutions to improve access to healthy and sustainable food will require multi-sectoral engagement. This is becoming the key takeaway from the UN Food Systems Pre-Summit, taking place in Rome.
Launched by UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres in October 2019, on World Food Day, the UN Food System Summit aims to address food security and sustainable and equitable food production. The meeting sets the premises of the global event in September by bringing together diverse actors to leverage the power of food systems to deliver progress on all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Success will however require engagement from all stakeholders: from nations to farmers, from companies to consumers.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the most pressing challenges of the world's food systems. The agricultural commodity price index has increased by 30%, compared to January 2024, and it reached the highest level in eight years. During the past few days, speakers tackled issues including the need for greater recognition of land tenure rights, the right of indigenous peoples, the links between humanitarian and development sectors, and gender-responsive food systems.
Locally sourced game-changing solutions
Mobilizing public and private investments to drive food systems transformation and prioritizing game-changing solutions should lay on collective action, according to a coalition made of EAT, IDEO, Thought For Food and The Rockefeller Foundation. Earlier in March, the parties launched The Food Systems Game Changers Lab, aiming to discover and support ideas, enterprises and initiatives that have the potential to transform our world’s food systems. During the opening day of the Pre-Summit of the UN Food Systems Summit on July 26, the coalition urged strengthening a multi-sectoral approach for food systems transformation if we want to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
The Food Systems Game Changers Lab is based on the approach to democratizing food systems: “Systems change demands a new approach: new minds working together in brave ways to build the resilient and inclusive world that we need,” stated Christine Gould, founder of the Millennial and Gen Z-focused agrifood innovation network Thought For Food, and a member of the UN Food Systems Summit Advisory Committee.
The team received over 500 submissions from 85 countries: these ideas ranged from building regenerative farms in various regions to supporting indigenous farming and food ways to combat climate change and improve diets. It will however require increasing resources: “We have seen that investments in research and innovation will need to double, if we have to halt the climate and food crisis by 2030,” said Kundhavi Kadiresan, managing director and global engagement and innovation at CGIAR. “Leveraging these investments to support the long term collaboration with diverse stakeholders on the ground, and looking at co-created with local partners is part of our strategy,” she continued.
The role of SMEs
Similarly, the UN announced the 50 best Small Business Winners, SMEs providing “Good Food for All,” which will share a $100,000 cash prize. “Small businesses manage at least half of our food economies and kept food on our plates throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr Agnes Kalibata, special envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the 2021 Food Systems Summit. “We must understand the challenges they face and work together to ensure they remain at the heart of efforts to improve the future of food,” she continued. The competition winners were announced alongside a new report, outlining three critical pathways for supporting small businesses in realizing their full potential and contribution to tackling the climate crisis. Creating more conducive business environments, offering more positive incentives, and empowering small business leaders to have greater influence in sector planning will be central. Companies, investors and authorities will have a key role in accelerating these businesses and initiatives to help scaling up further.
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