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Rather than having areas of divergence, one of the things that came out of the dialogue was that there are different possible approaches to changing the food systems in ways that serve the health and nutrition interests of consumers, whilst safeguarding the natural environment. On one hand, we know that industry is well equipped to reformulate food and to invest in R&D to develop healthy products; however, unless this is done in response to a demand by consumers, businesses risk losing profits. Another view was that there are areas where food products can be reformulated with long-term pos... قراءة المزيدitive outcomes; for example, in the case of infant foods. Here, industry has an opportunity to influence the taste buds and the eating habits of children right from the very start, so it should lead by example and not wait for incentives. In general, it was agreed that there is a need to make healthy food more accessible and more affordable, so it becomes easier and cheaper for consumers to make the right food choices. Simultaneously, efforts to influence consumer valorisation of local, fresh, seasonal produce, seafood and less processed food items need to be ongoing, through different media and targeting different age groups. Although food labelling is one tool that would help consumers to value and choose healthy options, this area is still an issue of debate even at European level, and we are far from reaching consensus and, more importantly, harmonisation of standards, which is the only way to ensure a level playing field for businesses in different sectors of food production. Furthermore, since Malta relies heavily on imported food, it would also be necessary to ensure that guidance on voluntary adoption or even legislation for a food labelling policy would not discriminate between local and international products. قراءة القليل

3. Choosing a healthier lifestyle: the Path towards a sustainable food system by 2030 As a society it is paramount to move away from a dietary pattern laden with highly- or ultra- processed food and towards a more balanced Mediterranean Diet –style pattern. It is crucial to invest in young people, not only through food, nutrition and Home Economics education as an entitlement throughout compulsory schooling and even beyond, but also by improving the nutritional quality of the local food products designed for children and adolescents. There is a need to overcome the physical and psychological... قراءة المزيد distance between what is on the plate and the sources of our food. Children frequently do not have a clear concept of where their food is coming from and therefore this aspect needs to be addressed through in-class and onsite education. Consumers must be empowered to value sustainable and healthy food choices and behaviours. Through the upcoming national policy on food systems Malta needs to work on strategies which prioritise the needs of the consumers within a sustainable production/consumption framework and to adopt a system which is more conducive to healthier food decisions. Through the ongoing Pitkalija (fruit and vegetable market) Reform, Malta has launched a Food Agency which is expected to adopt measures and mechanisms which safeguard our food systems while promoting the consumption of local produce. Food products should be labelled in a way which makes it easy for customers to identify the healthier and local options. This labelling could perhaps also be extended to restaurant menus. Simultaneously, due to high temperatures in Malta, it is necessary to invest in better storage capacity to keep products fresh keeping in mind safety and consumer appeal. قراءة القليل

2. What are the actions that Government can take in making healthy food for children more accessible, available, and affordable? The Government is currently drafting a national policy on food systems in their entirety. This will necessarily involve stakeholders from along the food supply, production, consumption and disposal chain in order to clarify needs for healthy, sustainable dietary patterns and discuss practical strategies and solutions for meeting these needs in the short-, medium- and long-term. It is necessary to support farmers by ensuring that they have access to land, equipment, t... قراءة المزيدechnical knowledge, the market and finance. In addition, it is important to identify areas where the government can assist farmers and food producers to help them manage and mitigate the impact of climate change. Health campaigns have a pivotal role to positively influence families to adopt healthier food options as part of their everyday lifestyle. Children need nutritious food from a young age and adult ‘gatekeepers’ (parents, relatives, school communities) have a critical role in educating about food and creating an environment conducive to healthy eating. It is crucial for our educational programmes to address current and future needs by also enabling children to fully understand the interconnectedness between food, health and the environment. At the same time, we need to towards a society where the right food decisions are easy to make. Examples of possible solutions include: moving less healthy snacks away from the checkout aisles at supermarkets (where they are often a temptation to young children and adults alike); assisting sport groups, scouts, youth and catechism centres to promote healthy eating through facilitating hands-on cooking sessions and subsidising vending machines with healthier food items; providing low-income families with vouchers which can only be redeemed to buy fresh produce or to buy directly from local farmers or fisherfolk. Authorities should make sure that food is produced as sustainably as possible, and that it is produced in line with animal welfare standards. If farmers are promoted to sell their products on their property, more people will be encouraged to directly support the local community by buying fresh food directly from the farm. Furthermore, this will also enable children to understand where food comes from and to appreciate the process through which food goes from farm to fork. The linkages between physical health, obesity and exercise, also highlight the importance of facilitating physical activity and the availability of open, green spaces. Both informational and structural efforts towards the promotion of shifting from a sedentary to a more active lifestyle should be pushed across all age groups by the state and also non-state entities. قراءة القليل

1. Main challenges for a sustainable food system in Malta It is necessary to make the healthy food choices, the natural and easy choice for both adults and children. Since highly-processed or ultra-processed foods are typically nutrient-poor foods which are high in saturated and trans-fats, sugar, refined grains, refined starch and salt, it is crucial to ensure that healthy and wholesome food is easily accessible, available and affordable. A key factor that needs to be addressed is eating behaviour. Schools have an obligation to ensure that our young generation have access to healthy sustainab... قراءة المزيدle food. The education level within households can also lead to better eating behaviours. It is imperative to educate children at a young age to ensure that they adopt healthy eating practices, through positive attitudes and valuation and by motivating change with the adults in their household. For the industry to go down a route of developing and producing nutrient dense foods instead of high energy food, there must be a demand for such products. Industry can reformulate existing products, however this is a costly exercise which would need to cater for the interest of the brand by retaining the current high quality, appearance and organoleptic properties of the product intact. It is pointless to develop a healthier product if the demand is not there. Therefore it is important to create a demand for healthier foods and adoption of active lifestyles. Food labelling is also a factor which needs to be revisited so that consumers’ healthier food choices are facilitated. قراءة القليل

The National Childhood Obesity Prevalence Study (2017) showed that 40% of children between the ages of 4.7 and 17 years were overweight or obese, with a tendency for obesity to peak in 5-8 year olds. This does not augur well, since a study conducted in 2016 found that around 70% of adults in Malta are either overweight or obese. Recent evidence shows that the major contributor of obesity are poor eating habits characterised by the consumption of highly processed food, which is high in sugar and fat and thus considered very palatable. These foods also increase the risk for tooth decay, high blo... قراءة المزيدod pressure, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease, amongst others. A National Health Literacy survey in 2014 showed that the level of nutrition knowledge had increased, yet individuals were still refraining from opting for healthy choices. The recent National Food Consumption Survey (2018, unpublished) shows that the vegetable and the dietary fibre intake is significantly low, such that the nation needs to double its intake. In contrast, fat and sugar need to be reduced significantly. A pilot study on foods for infants aged between 6-36 months showed that only 36% of tested food products met the nutritional standard criteria set by the WHO. Research confirms that children’s diets are normally restricted to around 15 foods (study year). What is worrying is that children may not be consuming a balanced diet due to this limitation and often they are not pushed to try new food. It was noted that when teenagers prepare their own meals, they are more likely to establish a healthy relationship with food. The National Breakfast Club Initiative implemented by the Education Department in state schools, has been running since 2014. It provides all school children who apply with an opportunity to have a free healthy nutritious breakfast in a secure environment before school starts. Furthermore, vulnerable children from deprived backgrounds are also provided with a free healthy packed lunch daily. Ironically, despite the fact that fresh produce and other food is available the demand is low. People often resort to buying from supermarkets and other outlets for convenience, and these retail outlets typically carry more imported food products, even vegetables, fruit and fresh cheese or dairy items. If the demand for fresh produce increases, farmers have the capacity and will be encouraged to produce more. Currently, the cheaper price of imported frozen food is affecting the consumers’ purchasing decisions. Malta is witnessing the impacts of desertification. A lack of rainwater is contributing to soil erosion and so does the lack of worked soil. The ocean is also being impacted as it is becoming more acidic which in turn affects the sustainability of the seafood chain. Security of our food systems is being threatened by climate change. In 2020 the Government published for public consultation the Long-term Waste Management Plan, which has a strong focus on food waste prevention and management. Malta has worked on several educational and structural campaigns on environmental issues targeting the genera l public or even schoolchildren. Perhaps it is time to initiate campaigns which target the corporate industry. قراءة القليل

The dialogue focused on Action Track 1 (ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all) and Action Track 2 (shift to sustainable consumption patterns). The starting point of the dialogue was that the incidence of child obesity in Malta is very high. In this regard, the dialogue addressed the needs of consumers in terms of accessibility, availability and affordability of healthy food for children and the actions that the Government, relevant stakeholders, and citizens as advocates and consumers can take to make healthy food for children more accessible, available and affordable.