Explore los Comentarios Oficiales del Diálogo

Promote more sustainable production and consumption patterns that help reduce losses and waste throughout the food distribution chain, from farm to fork.

It was highlighted that in the region there is a variety of food systems; therefore, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The best option varies according to local realities, needs, and priorities. There was agreement on the need to achieve more sustainable food systems, but not on the degree of transformation. Instead, the position of a just transition was voiced, indicating that such transition should consider both national priorities and local realities and stressing that within their diversity, not all food systems must be transformed. Such a position recognized that in some cases food ... Leer mássystems must be improved, without radical transformations that could imply large economic and social efforts, in times of great need of resources for the recovery from the pandemic. Leer menos

The main focus of the dialogue was to identify regional agreements in Latin America and the Caribbean regarding the challenges and opportunities for building more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient food systems with a view to the United Nations Food Systems Summit 2021.

1. The transformation of food systems to make them more sustainable, inclusive, resilient, and produce safe and nutritious food is key to strengthening their contribution to the economy of the countries of our region, to ensure food and nutritional security, for the reduction of poverty and ethnic, gender, and territorial inequalities, for health and nutrition, for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, for climate action, and for a people-centered inclusive, sustainable and resilient recovery from the crisis caused by COVID-19. The existence of more sustainable, inclusive, resi... Leer máslient food systems that produce safe and nutritious food is essential to achieve most of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 2. The transformation of food systems requires complex transitions related to how food is produced, processed, distributed, preserved, and consumed. The transformation will imply transitions that will be complex and take time, must be done with the concurrence of all relevant public and private actors, and will require the construction of agreements with a long-term country vision. 3. In the transformation of food systems, it is essential to promote balance among the various functions that food systems fulfill, especially among the objectives of production, health and nutrition, and sustainability in the use of natural resources. 4. There is a diversity of food systems in the region, which vary in terms of job creation, income distribution, market orientation, contribution to local and global food security, and environmental impacts, among others. Therefore, the transition to more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient systems will need to consider local realities, needs, and priorities. 5. The transformation of food systems in Latin America and the Caribbean should consider that the population affected by the "double burden of malnutrition" has increased substantially. Malnutrition has high economic costs due to the loss of capacities and productivity, and health systems costs, especially those due to the increase in obesity-related non-communicable diseases. 6. The transformation of food systems should promote productive employment, the creation of decent work, and the strengthening of sustainable enterprises in the rural economy with an emphasis on women and youth. It is essential to strengthen productive development policies to enhance economic diversification and promote rural productive transformation. It is also important to promote labor laws that recognize the conditions of employment in rural areas and in the agricultural sector. 7. International food trade must be rule-based and predictable, avoiding unilateral distorting measures, especially in the context of pandemics and other shocks such as conflicts, natural disasters, and the displacement of refugees. It is important to strengthen at the multilateral level the discussion on agricultural support, export subsidies, and trade barriers that create distortions in agricultural trade. Also, attention should be given to the need to create synergies and complementarities between production for export and production for local markets; and between global and intraregional food trade, considering that in the region there are both net-food-exporting and net-food-importing countries. 8. Improving the governance and transparency of food systems is important, through strengthening public institutions and inter-sectoral coordination, expanding the space for intra-sectoral dialogue, and incorporating sub-national governments. 9. Good, timely, and reliable statistical data is essential for the transformation of food systems. It is necessary to strengthen the governance of agro-environmental and market information systems and to support the consolidation of the statistical and impact evaluation frameworks at the country level. 10. The post-Covid-19 pandemic recovery makes the transformation process more complex but creates a sense of urgency that we must take advantage of to create more robust, inclusive, sustainable, and competitive food systems. Leer menos

Recognize the indissoluble relationship between the natural environment and the human environment. This relationship is at the center of society's new demands on agriculture and food, with implications for human health and general well-being, as has been seen in the current pandemic. Attention to the link between food systems and the natural environment is also an increasingly important factor for market access and as a source of competitiveness. We need to enhance our role as a region that provides food for the world, without affecting our biodiversity and fragile ecosystems.

Guarantee sustainability in land and water use and the ecosystem services on which agriculture depends. It is important to encourage a transition towards more agroecological production systems and practices with less environmental impact at all levels of agriculture; for example, through crop rotation, the recovery of degraded soils, and the improvement of ecosystem services, complemented by governance systems and technologies that guarantee efficient water use. Nature-based solutions supported by science and evidence are an alternative to improve the environmental performance of agriculture, ... Leer másespecially if they promote synergies among areas related to the conventions of climate change, biological diversity, and control of desertification. Leer menos

Promote the sustainable use of agrobiodiversity resources to increase the resilience of agriculture to climate change, provide new alternatives for rural livelihoods, and diversify diets with more nutritious foods. For this, it is essential to enhance the role of cultural diversity and the knowledge of indigenous peoples.

 El único aspecto por resaltar es que se consideró que las brechas tecnológicas, relacionadas con la tecnología e innovación, son un problema en la agricultura en general y no es exclusivo de la agricultura tropical que inciden en los sistemas alimentarios.

Discusión con respecto a la agricultura tropical y su relevancia para la transformación de los sistemas alimentarios. Durante el diálogo se abordaron distintos temas como brechas tecnológicas, mapeo de capacidades en la agricultura tropical, propuestas de soluciones para el cambio, la formación de alianzas y capacidades en investigación en agricultura tropical. Se buscó identificar propuestas de solución para el cambio considerando sinergias entre metas de acción climática, plataformas de investigación y colaboración, incorporar el conocimiento ancestral para la transferencia tecno... Leer máslógica, entre otras. Leer menos

Entre los principales hallazgos del diálogo se encuentra que: • Para promover la sostenibilidad de la agricultura tropical es importante tener como punto de partida el desafío del cambio climático, cuyos efectos los sufren desde el agricultor hasta el consumidor. Se requiere un ambiente habilitador en donde las políticas en temas ambientales puedan coadyuvar a la labor de los agricultores. • Es importante que la información compartida entre los actores clave esté basada en ciencia y que pueda ser comprendida e incorporada en las decisiones cotidianas. La inequidad en el acceso a info... Leer másrmación y tecnologías e internet en las zonas rurales dificulta la comunicación y la transferencia de tecnología. • Se requiere fortalecer el marco de políticas agrícolas para garantizar el acceso a la digitalización y reducir la brecha digital entre lo rural y urbano y entre las pequeñas y medianas empresas. • Asimismo, las políticas gubernamentales deben de estar vinculadas con programas de financiamiento para el agricultor. Las dificultades de acceso a financiamiento e infraestructura (física, natural, social, etc.) impacta en el acceso a nuevas tecnologías por parte del productor. • Es importante brindar condiciones acordes con las necesidades de los mercados locales y promover precios y comercio justo. • Es necesario brindar más educación de modelos de negocios para generar una identidad orientada a la innovación y el emprendimiento. • Con respecto a la investigación y la tecnología, es importante comprender mejor en qué parte de la cadena de valor (desde la producción al consumidor final) se encuentran desarrolladas las tecnologías. Importante mencionar que las investigaciones deben ser coherentes con las necesidades de las comunidades. • Es fundamental empoderar a las familias productoras a través del fortalecimiento de sus capacidades (blandas-técnicas) para fomentar el desarrollo de soluciones innovadoras que aprovechen el conocimiento de todas las fuentes, tanto científico como autóctono. • Incentivar a que se incremente el relevo generacional para reducir la migración de las juventudes de zonas rurales a zonas urbanas, lo cual aportaría a mejorar la canasta básica local y/o regional de las familias. Leer menos

 Los agricultores son parte fundamental de los Sistemas Alimentarios. Los agricultores son los protagonistas.  Las decisiones deben estar basadas en ciencia para reducir los riesgos.  La agricultura es parte de la solución para atender los principales retos globales. Infraestructura de riego es el regulador frente al desafío del cambio climático. Sinergias entre mitigación y adaptación, la ACI es identificada como una solución para alcanzar metas de adaptación.  Se reconoce que se está en un momento crucial para promover transformaciones sustantivas en la agricultura tropic... Leer másal para el alcance de Sistemas Alimentarios más sostenibles. Para promover esas transformaciones, es necesario lograr un consenso respecto a lo que se entiende por agricultura tropical, abordar las brechas tecnológicas y mapear las capacidades y fortalezas que existen en la región, en un horizonte de largo plazo.  La documentación y la efectiva comunicación de los casos exitosos en la agricultura tropical es clave. Por un lado, es fundamental documentar los casos de impacto y transformaciones de la agricultura tropical y los Sistemas Alimentarios como base de las negociaciones para atender las barreras que enfrenta la agricultura tropical. Por otro lado, es necesario contar con estrategias de comunicación de los exitosos que sean efectivas, eficaces, claras, contundentes y que permitan fortalecer el lugar de negociación de la agricultura.  Es importante pensar en un renovado marco de políticas públicas que permita implementar acciones que respondan a los desafíos actuales. La toma de decisión requiere información precisa y oportuna, por lo tanto, es importante fortalecer los sistemas de información en seguridad alimentaria y nutricional, y el aporte de la agricultura.  Entre las principales barreras que enfrenta la agricultura tropical se encuentra el limitado acceso a financiamiento, falta de políticas públicas inclusivas, falta de inclusión social verde, brechas digitales y tecnológicas. Con respecto a la inclusión social, es fundamental mejorar las negociaciones desde la agricultura ¡la agricultura tropical! para segmentos vulnerables, los cuales son el centro de atención de la Cumbre de los Sistemas Alimentarios. Las brechas de tecnología, como sesgo en la cadena de valor, son asimétricas; esto significa que conforme se avanza en la cadena de valor y se acerca al consumidor, los pesos en decisión son más fuertes y la asimetría se presenta contra los productores, quienes muestran las brechas de tecnología por desconocimiento, y la falta de pertinencia cultural. Leer menos

Building solidarity through faith-based coalitions can be truly transformative; it can work to re-educate consumers or to shift corporations’ behaviour (an example was given of an Oxfam and Unilever partnership). Faith has a huge role to play in this because common values bring people together, with a shared impetus towards compassion and transformation of oppressive systems. Accountability is necessary for the damage that has already been done to poor communities, lower-income countries, and the environment. Yet we must also cultivate compassion, re-educate consumers, increase access to inf... Leer másormation, support youth farmers, and take concrete actions to hold the agro-industrial complex accountable and to transform global food systems. Sharing aspect in faith traditions - important in Islam such during Ramadan in sharing of food with each other, an example given also in Yogic farming started in India such as custom of meditating during the farming cycle (over seeds, and segments during the growing process) – these are aspects that have been lost. Similarly in the Christian faith – as shown in the bible miracle story of Jesus multiplying the bread to feed a multitude - sharing is a key aspect which underscores the importance of sharing whatever little you have. Sharing of food from seed to the table; farmers to farmers. Sharing is relevant especially in an individualistic society. Stewardship in faith – which is also present in traditions ie Judaic for example in the Brahma Kumaris where overconsumption is not a good example of stewardship. We are all stewards of all the materials on the earth. Being steward also carries the responsibility to only take what we need. There is also the intersection of the needs of human and the needs of flora and fauna; protecting these communities is strong in Islam. This stewardship concept has been lost over time, however, replaced by legal private ownership resulting to inequity and inequitable distribution of goods. Rights based approach, respecting rights of others, respecting diversity. Related to responsibility I.e. in voting and linking it to financing, corruption Tradition of gift of food even if food is grown or cultivated by human effort - because of the strong sense of “gift of food from the Creator” in the Judaic traditions alongside a sense of responsibility towards food, a sense of gratitude and respect; sense of wonder and gratitude of receiving the gift of food; sense of not wasting food – sanctity of food. Also present in Indigenous cultures and other faith traditions Value of empathy in faith traditions – if practiced/adhered to can solve the problem of hunger. Empathy among humanity is important because while one community is starving, the other is living in plenty when there’s enough production to feed the whole world. The problem is capitalistic living that is detriment of others. This value also relates to global empathy among nations esp during food crises. All faith groups and indigenous traditions put a high value on production as it is essential for survival – a lot of text on importance of production in growing food, livestock etc. Huge emphasis on equity – that food is important, thanks given after consumption and everyone has right to access to this food Where equity is absent, provision to the vulnerable – clear in Judeo-Christian and Islamic traditions, absolute necessity to provide food / access to food to vulnerable groups. Interconnectedness: all faiths are in this together; all can and should come together; also the power as consumers Humility – relatedness to the soil; it’s the beauty of creation transformed into feeding human. Love - linked to the golden rule: do unto others as what you would like to do unto you; rule of love, do what love requires. Gratitude – giving of thanks and offering of food, fundamental. We are now too far removed in food production, and lack connection to the food we eat. Truth/transparency – need to demand what is contained in our food and where it comes from. Moral imperative and opposing corruption. There is power in faith community, including the power of voting to effect change in society; what is needed is also the syst Leer menos

Rather than areas of divergence, the following areas were mentioned as topics which deserve further exploration. Accountability - what should accountability look like? Awareness and reeducation are just as much a part of the solution as concrete actions could be. Suggestions included public policy changes, cutting subsidies, reparations, consumer boycotts, or pricing changes on products to correlate with their climate impact. Individual vs collective responsibility and accountability - what should the role of individuals be in accountability? I.e. responsibility and blame on corporations but i... Leer másndividuals are accountable as consumers (Mindful consumption of food and avoiding of wastage of food), concept of karma, etc. Leer menos

Major Focus “Please detail the focus of your Dialogue. For example, it could be (i) a comprehensive exploration of food systems, (ii) an exploration of one of the five Action Tracks or levers of change of the Summit, (iii) examination of links between one or more of the Action Tracks and levers of change, (iv) or another specific theme.“ This Inter-faith dialogue is designed to engage global faith and indigenous communities with the Food Systems Summit processes via co-convened dialogues through shared experience and learning underlining shared values and principles, spirituality and/or be... Leer másliefs that propel solidarity and mutual accountability with local communities, stewardship of the environment and sustainability of food systems. The objectives of the dialogue are as follows: Share and discuss different faith traditions around food and food systems; Discuss how the above shape the different initiatives of different faith communities and faith-based organizations; Articulate common values around food and raise awareness on the importance of mutual accountability to transform food systems towards sustainability; and Promote engagement and partnerships between faith-based organizations, indigenous peoples and other actors working on food systems. The dialogue was divided into three parts; Part 1 - Faith traditions and shared values in sustainable food systems; Part 2 - Parallel Breakout Sessions: Deep dive on values around food as well as on accountability; Part 3 - Feedback and reflections Leer menos

Main Findings “Please share your appreciation of the main findings (or conclusions) that emerged from your Dialogue. For example, your key findings might detail a) the need to establish new connections between certain stakeholders, b) an agreement on actions that stakeholders will take together (expressed as intentions or commitments), c) a decision to explore specific aspects of food systems in greater depth. ” Faith and spirituality are deeply connected to food systems. There is much common ground in religious values, such as the dignity of humans and compassion for others, which drives ... Leer máspeople of all faiths towards ending hunger. How we manage food systems can promote equity, justice and adequate and nutritious food distribution or perpetuate hunger, inequity and injustice. Food systems have profound implications on the quality of our relationships with others and our relationship with our environment with a spectrum of outcomes. The direction taken in the way Food systems depends very much on the values that undergird it. How we deal with food systems has ethical and moral implications. Faiths point us to values that are not non-negotiable- Truth and respect for life, respecting the other and the Earth. There was also agreement about misuse of religion by political leaders, corruption, hypocrisy, bribery, lobbying, etc and the way this has negatively impacted food systems. Leer menos

Both food systems and research will have to coevolve, one informed by the other in an ongoing fashion. How can we plan and invest in long-term research capacities needed to support this? There was strong consensus around the need for collaboration between institutions to ensure joined-up thinking and scalable approaches to increasing research capacity. Ideas included the creation of platforms to collaborate at national, regional and global levels, as well as multi-institutional grants that could foster intra and inter country collaboration, knowledge and expertise sharing. This approach was se... Leer másen as a ‘multiplier’ for the continent that could add value to country investments and combat ‘brain drain’. Another area of agreement concerned processes by which research capacity gaps could be identified and filled. Identifying gaps requires well-planned approaches that apply the right designs and tools, since errors could result in the misdirection of resources at the cost of other priorities. Participants suggested that robust monitoring, evaluation and feedback systems should be developed to identify research gaps, direct planning and funding. Locating gaps in capacity for food systems research is only useful if it is effectively communication to decision makers. Therefore, a high value was placed on developing the expertise to communicate research to the right stakeholders, beyond publications and conferences, so as to promote research uptake into action. The idea of ‘multisectoral approaches’ emerged among the breakout groups. This term is often used but participants questioned whether it is authentically pursued across the continent, and if not – what are the barriers? Collecting multisectoral data is an important starting point, as is the need to build and/or strengthen the capacity of national institutions to work together (example: Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture) in order to improve collaborative capacity. Upstream work is urgently needed to ensure that curriculums and research agendas at African universities are interdisciplinary and intersectoral. A debate around terminologies took place in plenary, and participants agreed on the need for coherence around the phrases: multidisciplinary; interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary. Communicating and collaborating with policymakers and funders was deemed of utmost importance among all, with a strong emphasis on the need to articulate the value added of research and research capacity investment in each subnational/national/regional context. Linked to this was a common call to identify the relevant decision-making stakeholders and structures (i.e. donors/governments/processes) and target these with refined advocacy asks. There was broad consensus that implementation evidence is powerful in helping policymakers make decisions to change the system. Therefore, fostering research-based policies through long-term relationships between researchers and policymakers is crucial. Involvement of researchers from myriad disciplines in designing education policy and interventions is paramount. However, Dialogue participants agreed highlighted barriers to engaging with policymakers and funders, including other sectoral priorities and bureaucracy. Bringing policymakers into the process of identifying capacity gaps early on would give them a better understanding of the research process and the significance of these shortfalls for the wider economy. Also, a wider range of stakeholders into policy dialogue processes -i.e. students, educators, beneficiaries/users– will further demonstrate how research impacts on people’s lives, and thus the importance of directing resources into the pipeline of expertise. Some outlying ideas emerged from separate groups. These included sending postgraduate students abroad to build capacity and foster ideas exchange; to place greater emphasis on indigenous knowledge and traditional systems in curriculums and policy forums; and to establish institutional sharing systems for costly equipment and resources. While these topics were not necessarily proposed by every group, they are none-the-less invaluable ideas that stimulated discussion. Leer menos

What type of capacities are needed to prioritise policies in an evidence-informed way? ? I.e. what works/does not, how to improve, who wins/who loses, trade-offs and co-benefits, cost-effectiveness and financing Several major themes emerged under this discussion. Firstly, that strong linkages should be prioritised between research and policy. Research questions should more often be formulated by African institutions and academics, but this requires significant and urgent investment into R&D in order to bring more people into research. Building on the discussions in question 1, there was a ... Leer másconsistent feeling that policymakers themselves require a minimum comprehension of intersectoral solutions to food and nutrition challenges, and that the next generation of these decision-makers would therefore benefit from A) more cross-cutting curriculums and B) being incorporated into research processes from the beginning of their policy roles. Alongside this were debates around how build capacity in stakeholder engagement and scientific communications, including expertise to liaise effectively and ethically with the private sector and political leaders. All groups agreed that collaboration is critical for ensuring the best use of resources and information, and that linking researchers with implementing organisations is critical. Secondly, a priority is to make better use of data and technology in identifying and addressing capacity gaps in food systems research and the scientific expertise needed to undertake this. Implementing more robust data collection systems across universities, agricultural extension services, government departments and municipalities would provide more granular information about capacity shortages on the horizon. Alongside this, Africa’s growth in digital technologies should be better harnessed for food systems transformation, not only for improving resilience of farmers and markets, but for increasing access to education and training for the next generation of scientists who will drive technological innovation in agriculture-food systems across the continent. Thirdly, overarching both above is the need to develop research capacity, urgently, equitably and holistically. Participants consistently highlighted the need for interdisciplinarity to be embraced, not only for governments to place a greater emphasis on anthropology, humanities, social sciences and law as valid food system disciplines, but to incorporate traditional and indigenous knowledge which is rich and still an untapped reservoir of expertise across the continent. The groups discussed the role of ‘research informed learning’; for instance how community and local engagement, people-centred and actionable research could be championed and showcased in curriculums. These changes cannot be implemented at the individual level, they require institutional reforms alongside the strengthening of partnerships and consistent funding mechanisms. Certainty around long-term funding would give universities and research institutions the confidence to invests in their own systems that support high-quality teaching, learning and research. Only through longer term investment will a new generation of researchers and leaders emerge to generate and disseminate evidence. The fourth theme arising was the utility and importance of networks and platforms, to promote collaboration among researchers, not just across the continent but around the world. Such platforms expose researchers, teachers and students to cutting-edge ideas and technologies, while providing opportunities for sharing best practices and lessons learnt in food systems sciences. Furthermore, platforms facilitate communication which can avoid duplication of effort and ensure that knowledge is not lost as trends in research and funding changes. Some outlying themes emerged from separate groups. These included greater emphasis on communicating economic benefits of increasing research capacity; funding of long term feasibility studies at specific universities; and the importance of building expertise around navigating the private sector ethically to avoid and conflicts of interest. Leer menos

How can countries identify and prioritize solutions that could be most catalytic for positive food system transformation, informed by evidence? Research capacity building was the most frequently discussed topic under this discussion point, with a strong desire for expertise to be prioritised in areas such as evidence synthesis, research innovation and leadership. Each of these would give country governments greater insights into the solutions needed their specific contexts, which in turn would reduce the need to revert to global or regional policy fixes. Mentorship emerged as an important comm... Leer máson idea among the participants, with partnerships between researchers, alumni and their institutions as one important strategy to increase expertise within countries. Multisectoral approaches to identifying and solving problems through multi-level governance involving food system actors on all levels, as well as community beneficiaries was a theme that arose in several groups. Opening channels of communication and collaboration with policymakers and government was seen as an important step broadening the ‘expertise’ considered valid for agenda setting and policymaking. Participants agreed that funding is the elephant in the room, and would need to be diversified from multiple sources, so it’s not entirely externally driven. Establishing a national, regional and/or continental system of case studies and lessons learnt could provide Finance Ministries with greater evidence for what works and what doesn’t (example: using youth ambassadors for food systems awareness in the community, or introducing a new cross-cutting ag-nutrition-health curriculum module). Alongside this, was the idea of linking government frameworks and research priorities, and to prioritise the synthesis of existing evidence so as not to reinvent the wheel with unnecessary policies, or programmes that have been shown not to be effective. There was a broad consensus around the need for locally-driven frameworks and research agendas that respond to the needs of each country and/or region. Agenda that are driven by African researchers, traditional and indigenous knowledge systems, but that also draw upon, and weigh against the global body of scientific evidence, so that priority setting is locally-driven but evidence-informed. Following this, monitoring and evaluation systems should be developed to track progress, highlight gaps/challenges and indicate whether transformation in food systems research capacity is actually happening over time. Leer menos

The UN Food System Summit promises to “launch bold new actions to transform the way the world produces and consumes food, delivering progress on all 17 Sustainable Development Goals.” An ambitious aim that reflects the urgency needed to address the profound global and local problems linked to existing food systems – from poor diets driving malnutrition and chronic disease, to the climate crisis, environmental degradation and widening inequities eroding the safety and sustainability of livelihoods. Many of these are shared global challenges, yet significant variations exist across regions... Leer más and within diverse country contexts, where levels of food and nutrition security and safety are hugely divergent. While high level rhetoric around food system transformation is positive, it is critical to understand how the evidence-base needed to underpin, guide and re-evaluate such priorities and policies in different settings will be generated and sustained. Ambitious ideas and goals emerging from the Summit must be supported by robust types of information. The expertise to generate contextually appropriate and scientifically robust evidence (cutting across disciplines) in a timely way is arguably as important as the policies themselves. In other words… “A game changer!” But unlike statements drafted for the Summit, they cannot be produced in a matter of weeks or months. Generating evidence that spans disciplines and sectors is inherently complex, but not insurmountable. However, bottlenecks may exist in the pipeline of expertise, particularly in countries where existing capacity may not yet be sufficient. In light of, this, investing in systems of research, learning and sharing – within and among affected regions, particularly low- and middle income settings – will be paramount to steering context-specific interventions, informed by robust evidence-bases as food systems evolve. The political and financial commitments expected to flow from the Summit should extend to these systems, to ensure that support is provided ‘upstream’ to interdisciplinary curriculums and training, alongside mechanisms for cross-sectoral and multi-stakeholder research and learning collaboration. But before this can happen, a range of important questions must be better addressed, which this Dialogue sought to respond. These include, but are not limited to: • Both food systems and research will have to coevolve, one informed by the other in an ongoing fashion. How can we plan and invest in long-term research capacities needed to support this? • What type of capacities are needed to prioritise policies in an evidence-informed way? I.e. to generate evidence to understand what works, what does not, how to improve, who wins, who loses, trade-offs and co-benefits across diverse outcomes of interest, as well as cost-effectiveness and financing • How can countries identify and prioritize solutions that could be most catalytic for positive food system transformation, informed by evidence? • Multi-disciplinary expertise is needed in all regions to help address these questions and to underpin key recommendations from the Summit and beyond. By convening stakeholders across communities of research, education and policy, with a specific focus on the African context, this Independent Dialogue will provide a space for these important questions to be discussed, and for new concerns and considerations to be shared. Leer menos

• Expertise cannot be fostered overnight. Policymakers themselves require a minimum comprehension of intersectoral solutions to food, nutrition and environmental challenges. Developing the next generation of researchers and practitioners requires multi-disciplinary investment well in advance. • Funding is central. It should be well-planned and diversified, so it’s not entirely externally driven. This will allow research agendas to be formulated by African institutions and academics. Certainty around long-term funding would give universities and research institutions the confidence to inv... Leer másests in their own systems that support high-quality teaching, learning and research • It is critical to develop systems for forecasting and proactively planning to fill gaps in research expertise and scientific systems. This means investing in data collection and cross-institutional information sharing (between and within governments and universities). • Communicating with policymakers and funders is of utmost importance for the future of evidence-based food system actions. Building capacity in stakeholder engagement and scientific communications, including expertise to liaise effectively and ethically with the private sector and political leaders should be a priority. • Linkages between research and policy should be prioritised. Involvement of researchers from myriad disciplines in designing education policy and interventions is paramount. But barriers exist in engaging with policymakers and funders. Policymaker involvement in processes of identifying capacity would instil a firmer understanding of the research process and the significance of these shortfalls for the wider economy and society. • The significant depth of indigenous and traditional knowledge systems across Africa should be more purposely brought inside curriculums. • Regional and international networks and platforms for teaching, learning and research are pivotal to promoting collaboration and sharing the latest evidence, technologies, lessons learnt and best practices. Leer menos