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Roundtable 2: Food loss and waste After the presentation of two multi-stakeholder platforms focused on food loss and waste (Food Waste Free United, and the Cool Move), the dialogue at this table identified several common challenges. One of them is that it may be difficult to convince participants of the added value of the MSP in the kick-off phase, due to the high costs involved in terms of time, effort, and money. It is also demanding to get all members to commit and follow through on a similar level of actions: some actors may join with enthusiasm at the beginning but then lose interest alon... Read moreg the way and will need to be pushed. In particular, public and private collaboration may be challenging if there is no alignment of objectives, and when there are divergences of visions among partners. In the next three years, working in multi-stakeholder platforms could have the greatest impact if stakeholders get the urgency of the food systems’ transition on the table and create momentum. This would imply creating consensus and celebrating successes. Recommendations: -Some key conditions need to be in place for a successful MSP, such as having a strong and independent driving group of convenors/facilitators, and having a shared ambition and agenda, which creates a sense of community and participation in a joint social impact initiative. -Additionally, it needs to be clear what’s in it for partners in the MSP, and a clear set of incentives needs to be there, such as the ability to create synergies by working with partners that complement each other. -It is also important to create ownership especially among local actors - this is not easy, and will take time and energy - and to ensure political commitment to allow all actors to meaningfully engage. This entails setting robust standards for transparent engagement, to allow less powerful actors to be involved and give them a clear mandate. It is crucial to grasp opportunities for the alignment of powerful players with less powerful actors. -A clear scaling strategy is necessary to scale successful MSPs (also as a visual, based on an integrated view of the value chain), as well as identifying and engaging scaling partners. Such scaling strategy needs to follow a regional or national/local approach, as there is no one scaling strategy that applies to all. -Another key aspect for well-functioning MSPs is to provide quality information and data along the whole value chain, to improve measuring, monitoring, and learning. -To develop effective MSPs there is a need to guarantee the long-term funding, also for facilitation, and the (overhead) cost of a professional coordinating team. -Creating peer exchange networks between partnerships working towards the same goal can help to share learnings and scale-up. Cases presented: Case 1: Food Waste Free United https://www.nlfoodpartnership.com/documents/213/Multi-stakeholder_platform_working_on_halving_food_loss_and_waste.pdf Case 2: The Cool Move https://www.nlfoodpartnership.com/documents/219/FLW_case_2-Rabobank_The_cool_move.pptx.pdf Read less

Roundtable 3: Digitalisation This roundtable discussion was informed and inspired by two examples of multi-stakeholder platforms: Auxfin Burundi and Digifarm. The dialogue continued identifying challenges and opportunities of working in MSPs in this domain. Theynmay help create more collaboration and alignment in the digital-for-agriculture sector, with the potential to tackle the often seen duplication of efforts. In this sector, competition between MSP partners may hamper data sharing and co-creation of digital solutions, and limit cooperation to foster the interoperability of systems. Open ... Read moresource for example is seen as a dilemma: it may contribute to the adoption of innovations at scale, but it can also limit the financial sustainability for the creators. The latter is a challenge in this sector: much of the infrastructure for digital solutions still needs to be built up, so large investments by (big) players are necessary, with the resulting need to earn back the cost. Recommendations: -Multiple actors working on digitalisation in agri-food should take responsibility to develop this sector further to deliver on food security outcomes. They can grasp opportunities to improve the performance of this sector through cooperation. -The Netherlands should invest in digitalisation as a contribution to food security, and Dutch actors can share their broad experience in this domain with LMIC actors. -Stakeholders working on digitalisation and mainstream organisations need to capitalize on their differences. Introducing technology and creating infrastructure is only one aspect, adoption of digital tools by farmers requires cooperation between different actors. -MSPs in digitalisation can learn from each other and from collaborative platforms in other domains. They may particularly benefit from dedicated support to balance interests and powers. As new partners are introduced to address challenges of MSPs, balancing interests is needed. -When there is competition around sharing data or open/closed source code, a middle way can be found by sharing some types of data or working with partly open/closed source. It is not all or nothing. -Actors active in the digital-for-agriculture domain need to document how food security benefits from digitalisation. -Digital industry standards of world regions should be aligned. Common standards and regulations can improve the enabling environment by creating a bigger playing field for digital for agriculture actors to scale and cooperate more easily. Cases presented: Case 1: Auxfin Burundi https://www.nlfoodpartnership.com/documents/212/UMVA.a_Digital_Food_Systems_Service_platform_Yannick_Chokola_Roundtable_Digitalization.pdf Case 2: Digifarm https://www.nlfoodpartnership.com/documents/216/DigiFarm_Sieka__Gatabaki_Roundtable_Digitalization.pdf Read less

Roundtable 4: Nutrition Improving nutrition security requires a systemic approach, which combines for example creating demand with improving the enabling environment and the supply of nutritious foods. This makes it more complex and is why it is not always easy to deliver outcomes at the level of improved diets (i.e. which are more diverse, safe, healthy, and affordable). But it is also why working through a multistakeholder approach is promising. These were among the findings of a recent evaluation of nutrition PPPs commissioned by the Netherlands Working Group on international Nutrition (NWG... Read moreN), the preliminary outcomes of which were shared during this independent dialogue. The other successful example presented was the Vegetables for All project in Tanzania, an initiative that benefited from the complementarity between its partners: Rijkzwaan, TAHA, Rabobank, World Vegetable Centre, ICCO, WUR, and GAIN, who collaborated in a whole vegetable chain approach from seed to stomach. Currently, some of the instruments used in international cooperation are not (yet) designed to achieve these systemic outcomes or to take such systemic approaches, which may make (potential) coalitions risk-averse and slow down progress. Recommendations: -When developing food and nutrition security initiatives, 'nutrition' should not be considered as a theme to choose, but rather as a topic that needs to be mainstreamed. -Approaches need to be about food AND nutrition security to prevent that it is food OR nutrition security. -Financing and investment for nutrition needs to be enhanced. -National and international donors and impact investors should improve on the conditions of their instruments, i.e. being more explicit on the nutrition outcomes they intend to achieve. -Monitoring and evaluation must pay attention to potential trade-offs that could occur as a result of project selection criteria: some criteria for effectiveness may limit the inclusion of certain farmers or consumers. -It is important to manage expectations of public-private collaboration for nutrition. In some cases, this may imply lowering certain expectations if some are not realistic. -Communication about healthy diets and nutrition with different stakeholders in different parts of the world could benefit from clearer messaging, and from integration as part of broader approaches. Cases presented: Case 1: Evaluation PPPs in Food and Nutrition Security https://www.nlfoodpartnership.com/documents/220/Nutrition_case_2-NWGN_Evaluation_PPPs_in_FNS.pdf Case 2: Vegetables for All project in Tanzania https://www.nlfoodpartnership.com/documents/221/Nutrition_case_1-GAIN-Veg4all.pptx.pdf Read less

Roundtable 5: Finance The dialogue started with the presentations about the Agri3 Fund and the case of Cooperative Development in the Chilean Food and Agriculture sector, based on the Dutch diamond approach. Among the challenges identified in this group was that time, effort, and money are usually required but not always available to develop ambitious ideas to start an MSP initiative. Also, a challenge is the different language and corporate culture which different stakeholder groups represent - e.g. bankers vs civil society vs government. Smallholder farmers are too often deemed to not yet be... Read more “relevant” players in food systems and are hence overlooked in policies, sustainable transformation, and finance. Moreover, the difference of power within the multi-stakeholder platforms might hinder the voice of smaller players. This implies that multi-stakeholder initiatives in this domain need to proactively address communication, trust, and alignment challenges, fostering continuous engagement and knowledge sharing. Working with neutral academic and knowledge institutions may help tackle the lack of trust, if applicable. It is also important to build a core team, and a delivery unit. In addition, these initiatives also need to carefully balance and deliver on various development impact domains, including economic, social, and ecological sustainability. This needs a clear vision and a common policy: ‘SMART’ objectives, concrete data, and a delivery model. It also needs investment in resourcing through manpower and funding. Recommendations: -To build a multi-stakeholder platform that incorporates or focuses on finance, it is important to involve specific key stakeholders: commercial banks, who have a local infrastructure; public and private investors; clients (traders, aggregators, producers, farmers), governments (local, global), academic institutions, NGOs. -Clear roles have to be defined, and every stakeholder should have a stake in the MSP governance. -Ensure there is a business case for each of these MSP partners, be it through impact, financial returns, changing practices, and/or others. -Explore innovative financing mechanisms like blended finance, and simultaneously build knowledge and capacity through technical assistance allowing research engagements and sectoral analysis. -MSPs working on finance for SFS should take into account that digitalisation and sustainability are two key trends that are becoming more and more important for involved stakeholders and customers. -Use a local sector approach and/or landscape perspective to present common themes like regulatory improvement or to identify the sustainability agenda, developing research, and finding sustainable business cases. -Share learnings within and beyond the MSP (i.e. with other MSPs and sector actors) to drive further change. -As many organizations tend to work in silos, MSPs may require a change in operating models individually and not only collectively. -Agility and diversity are important too: In changing circumstances, use the capacity of different organizations to create solutions and create value opportunities. Cases presented: Case 1: Agri3 Fund https://www.nlfoodpartnership.com/documents/222/Finance_case_1-Rabobank_Agri3.pptx.pdf Case 2: Cooperative Development in the Chilean Food and Agriculture sector https://www.nlfoodpartnership.com/documents/217/Chilean_use_case_Smallholder_framers_as_part_of_food_chain.pdf Read less

The dialogue recognized the nutritional benefits of climate resilient agriculture and the need for detailed analyses of the interplay between food security and climate change, and their impact on the most vulnerable groups, through a food systems lens. The discussion was focused on the trade offs between human and planetary health to show how transforming food systems is necessary in order to (i) meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, (ii) ensure that diets are no longer a major risk factor for disease and death, and (iii) avoid increasing zoonotic diseases spillover. Ensuring both human and p... Read morelanetary health will depend on several factors and possible solutions, including: - decision making based on systemic approaches and cooperation; - generation and use of evidence for decision making; - political will and action, combined with stronger accountability; in particular, systems of mutual accountability are needed to ensure that actors and institutions involved in food systems contribute fully to the common goal of achieving a sustainable diet for all; - empowerment - negotiation and provision of incentives - data to inform and predict future scenarios - greater consideration towards consumers' choices; for example, promoting healthy and local food by changing consumer behaviour is a crucial element, especially among young people, through creative and innovative ways to make traditional crops, neglected and underutilized species attractive through a formula that meets modern needs. To achieve a healthy and sustainable diet, it is important to contextualize national goals based on local conditions. At country level, designing and implementing climate and nutrition smart agricultural policies and investment plans also requires knowledge about micronutrient deficiencies and their geographic and age distribution. Getting policy makers to implement some of the solutions and advocating for innovative solutions, together with building good partnerships, were identified as key practices for successful stories. Among the main opportunities for positive change it emerged: the adoption of a gender equality approach, the importance of credit schemes, access to land, and continued collaboration through facilitated multi-stakeholder partnerships, a combination of cash transfers and improved home gardening, policies to promote gender transformation in value chain activities to ensure women participation and to increase their adaptive capacity to adequately respond to climate change challenges. For a transition towards more sustainable food systems, it is essential to adopt a horizontal approach, going beyond the sectoral one, for integrated food policies that are able to be implemented in line with the peculiarities of each context. Furthermore, it is important to ensure adequate participatory monitoring and evaluation of projects and activities, especially with young people. Read less

Participants agreed on the importance of adopting a horizontal approach, going beyond the sectoral one, for integrated food policies that are able to be implemented in line with the peculiarities of each context. Stakeholders should focus more on knowledge and capacity building to contextualise actions and find out appropriate solutions tailored to the specific context.

Policy coherence and institutional coordination in the climate change and nutrition nexus shall be strengthened by integrating the nexus in existing national and regional multisectoral platforms. One example is provided by the National Executive Secretary of the National Nutrition Development Council of Government of Senegal. It was recognised that one big challenge is related to the fact that currently developed plans for the management for the incorporating climate change nutrition nexus do not exist or are very limited. Also, anther problem is that many programs originate from either nutrit... Read moreion structure/actors or climate ones and dialogue among them need to be facilitated. Read less

It was stressed the importance of participatory monitoring and evaluation of projects and activities, especially with young people.

In order to impact the whole system it is important to start at both ends of the chain as well, such as engaging with consumers and change the conversation about local food and its social and ecological implications, pushing for local healthy diets and benefitting local farmers, chefs and entrepreneurs.

Most research on the impact of climate change on the nutrient content of crops has focused on staple crops; to date, very few studies have examined how climate change may influence changes in production and consumption of non-staple food groups. More research is needed on how different kinds of crops – particularly those that are nutrient-dense such as fruits, vegetables, and legumes – will fare in a +2 C degree world.

Having both human and planetary health depends on and needs the following: : - Decision-making: prioritizing, cooperating, systems thinking - Evidence: generating it, sharing it, using it - Political will and action: being cautiously bold, learning from the past - Empowerment: of who, for who, and with balance - Negotiation: providing room to move and incentives - Data: to inform and predict future scenarios of decisions - Sharing the planet: global citizenry and sustainability

During the discussion subject of “combining human health and planetary health", there were some areas of divergence on promotion of healthy diet and EAT diet on specific context that have not reached food security yet. The debate was constructive and all participants agreed on the need to contextualize the choices and having different balances among climate and nutrition considerations according to the contexts. There was also much focus on women empowerment as main generators of changes and sustainability. Another issue raised concerned the massive increase in the human population being the... Read more driver of un-sustainable food systems; a paper by UNDP coming out in few weeks should analyze the issue of demography and food systems more deeply and provide some additional and new evidence. Read less

Climate change, food systems and food and nutrition security are strongly interlinked. The food we eat and how we produce it will determine the health of people and planet, according to the EAT Lancet Commission. Extreme weather and climate events have increased in frequency, intensity and severity. The World Meteorological organisation (WMO) indicated that the years 2015–2019 were the five warmest on record and that the 2010–2019 average temperature was the warmest on record. Since the 1980s, each successive decade has been warmer than any preceding one since 1850. There is increased evid... Read moreence that the effects of climate change have an impact on livelihood choices, work options and time spent on care and other nutrition-related activities, undermining current efforts to reduce hunger and promote nutrition. Evidence suggests that climate-related changes in diets may contribute to 500,000 additional deaths for malnutrition. Furthermore, the effects of climate change on nutrition vary based on wealth status and livelihood and contribute, therefore, to increased inequalities and vulnerability of marginalized groups. The 2020 Global Nutrition Report revealed that progress is too slow to meet global targets to end malnutrition in all its forms. We know that major changes must be made to increase access to affordable healthier diets for all people and planet. The thematic areas covered by the discussion include: 1) The body of evidence showing the interlinkages between climate and nutrition and the existing research gaps; 2) The potential solutions, that optimize synergies between climate change and nutrition and minimize trade-offs; 3) The policy and programmatic approaches adopted by governments and development partners to address present and future challenges. The objective of this dialogue was to enhance understanding and awareness on interlinkages between climate change and nutrition in agricultural investments, as well as their importance for sustainable food systems and solutions to address existing trade offs. Read less

The future transformation of food systems in Africa requires innovative research, education, and training approaches that are rooted in local contexts. Universities in Africa need to adapt and create knowledge to strengthen and transform the food systems through strengthening links and improving production, processing, storage, transport, food quality, and businesses that link them and consumers. Universities must play a crucial and more effective role in anticipating the skill-sets and knowledge demanded by rapidly changing food systems, and provide these skills and information in ways that t... Read morerickle through the entire economy. In turn, the universities need to translate knowledge created into innovations that transform and develop potential to drive their own and Africa’s food system transformation. Now is the time to reassess and redesign the African universities and assist them to build their capacity to deliver Africa’s food system transformation. The dialogue therefore targeted a) University contribution to: i) Zero Hunger, access to nutritious food and food safety: Approximately 300 million people in Africa are undernourished and food insecure; ii) Elevating the voice and role of Smallholder farmers in Food Systems interventions- Build resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stress - b) Long-term investment and policy for Food Systems research, higher education and innovation. i) Enhancing Human Capital development to support the transformation of Food systems- Advance equitable livelihoods Read less

The African Agriculture Sector/Context 1. Africa is home to nearly 1.4 billion people (about 17% of the world’s population). The vast majority of these people live in rural Africa, deriving their livelihoods from agriculture and related resources. With sixty percent of Africa’s population dependent on agriculture, a vibrant agricultural sector must be part of the solution for creating inclusive development on the continent. 2. Vibrant agri-food-systems and institutions engaged in production to consumption of food are key to delivery of the continent’s development agenda, Africa We Want, ... Read moreand the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Smallholder Farmer Focus 1. Africa produces its food from two main types of systems: smallholder-based, highly diversified production systems and “progressive” semi-to-extensive production systems that are increasingly owned and managed by urban elite. 2. The smallholder farmers that feed and employ the vast majority of people, with women accounting for up to 70% of the labour force. 3. The primacy of Africa’s smallholder agriculture to underpin sustainable and equitable food systems that support food and nutrition security for all, for the present generations and posterity, is unequivocal and must be integral in discussions on global food systems. 4. The weak linkages between African smallholder farmers and research/extension, as well as agricultural markets must be strengthened. 5. Due to low technological advancements (hand held hoe) and other factors, African agriculture is not attractive to most youth. Strengthening Human Capital Development (Skilling) 1. For Africa, especially Sub-Saharan Africa, to realize its full agricultural potential to bolster its food systems, there is need for significant investments in key productivity-enhancing innovations to harness science solutions for growth. 2. Only a fraction of smallholder farmers has requisite entrepreneurial ability, productive assets and skills potential for value addition. Skilling such populations, and in general, improving the labour productivity is critical for African agriculture to play a greater role in meeting local to global food demand, in a competitive and cost-effective and competitive manner. 3. A more holistic human capital development is required to build the agricultural workforce, from production, to research and innovations, as well as entrepreneurship. African universities are pivotal in designing and implementing human capital development programmes. 4. Universities themselves have to change how they do business and respond to emerging needs and advance processes and mechanisms that ensure that graduates appreciate agriculture and agribusiness as a source of employment and livelihood. 5. Africa must not outsource its food security (export jobs) but build capacity to bolster its global food production and export markets. Read less

1. Strengthen production fundamentals, such as research and innovation, to direct how we leverage our production resources, generate relevant technologies, guide threat surveillance, and inform policy design and accountability. 2. Institute industrial policies that promote private investment and job growth in local non-farm sectors, essential to attract investment in agri-food systems (the focus on agro- industrialization) 3. Scale up of technologies developed by universities to make them available for youth and use within the country. Foster Intellectual Property and patenting. 4. Invest stro... Read morengly in the education value chain, from universities to vocational colleges, to leveraging on secondary and primary education to upgrade the skill levels of young people entering the labour force. 6. Work collaboratively with African universities and other actors in and outside Africa to marshal the needed response to strengthen Africa’s food systems and for scaling out best practices. There is need to bridge the disconnect between academia and government and between technocrats and politicians who allocate resources to support food systems enhancement. 5. Foster global partnerships to develop more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient food systems that consider the needs of smallholder farmers and youth. 6. Strengthen commitment to Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development (CAADP) financing and implementation, Africa’s Agenda 2063, STISA 2024 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA). 7. Invest in preparedness (i.e., data science, foresight, and building response capacities) to manage emerging and future challenges with keen attention to the 4th Industrial Revolution 8. Establish startup/venture capital funds that will enable young graduates to adopt agriculture as a career for self-employment and to employ peers. 9. Appeal to the United Nations Food System Summit (UNFSS) to: a. Support the efforts of Africa to invest in and transform its food systems and build the capacity needed to develop and implement a sustainable, inclusive food system. b. Recognize that co-developing, co-ownership, and joint implementation of UNFSS agreed game-changers for food systems transformation on the African continent must be inclusive, and provide equitable opportunities. 10. Endorse the international community support for the formation of an African Multi-stakeholder Capacity strengthening platform for sustainable, inclusive African food systems (Capacity Strengthening Platform for African Food Systems). 11. Facilitate improvement in the information flow from research to the government where it can be utilized to advance food systems and livelihoods. 12. Strengthen the link between university and government as a precursor for evidence-based decision making and to lobby government for resource allocation towards Food and Nutrition Security. Read less

- Por razones de economía, las familias buscan alimentos altos en carbohidratos pensando más en llenarse que en nutrirse. - Hay transculturización de la alimentación, es cada vez más frecuente el consumo de comida rápida. - Desconocimiento sobre el procesamiento de los alimentos. - Hay deficiencias en la educación alimentaria, no solo es cuestión de acceso físico, por ejemplo, hay personas con posibilidades económicas pero que están sufriendo sobrepeso. - Se considera que el sector salud no le da la importancia al nutricionista para apoyar procesos de concientización y discusión d... Read moree problemas nutricionales. - Desinformación sobre temas de alimentación saludable. - Hay ausencia de educación alimentaria y nutricional en el currículo académico. - Uso de prácticas no sostenibles y que dañan los recursos naturales, como la quema en la siembra del maíz y caña de azúcar, afecta la disponibilidad de agua, incrementando la vulnerabilidad de las familias más pobres, porque invierten más en obtener agua para sobrevivir. - La sobrepoblación y asentamientos urbanos deterioro de los recursos naturales. - Muy pocas empresas invierten en proyectos de eficiencia energética o producción de energías limpias medioambiente. - Los marcos regulatorios son débiles para la aplicación de las normas que protejan los recursos naturales. - No hay una regulación que permita disminuir los desperdicios en hoteles y restaurantes. - Deficiente control de calidad en productos que se comercializan. - Los desperdicios se dan un poco en toda la cadena, pero más en el eslabón de consumo. Read less

- Hay una limitante económica pero cuando hay un poco dinero, se prefiere adquirir paquetes de telefonía celular y no alimentos. Se compran otras cosas que no son tan saludables para alimentarse. Esto cambiaría con educación a la población. - Se han abandonado en algunos casos, el cultivo de los huertos caseros y cría de especies menores. Deberían fomentarse estas iniciativas. - Transitar de prácticas que deterioran el medio ambiente a otras que no, es un cambio cultural que tiene que ser gradual, que requiere de un proceso de educación y sensibilización. - Retomar experiencias exito... Read moresas de otros países para atender las problemáticas de desperdicios de alimentos. - Certificación de los procesos productivos en las empresas. - Afiliación a programas/comités RSE. - Iniciar la implementación de cambios, o proyectos piloto, desde el entorno de trabajo brindando las condiciones adecuadas para hacerlo. Read less

- Es necesaria la implementación de educación alimentaria y nutricional en todos niveles. - Es necesario educación y sensibilizar sobre el consumo adecuado de alimentos, e informar a la población sobre los beneficios de tener una alimentación nutritiva y balanceada. - Es necesario trabajar de la mano con el Ministerio de Educación e incluir en el currículo el tema de sostenibilidad en todos sus ámbitos. - La articulación institucional puede ser un factor que facilite los procesos formativos, de seguimiento y evaluación. - Son necesarios impulsar proyectos dirigidos a la descontaminac... Read moreión de los ríos. - Se deben valorar esquemas de incentivos para transitar a prácticas productivas más sostenibles. Esto permitiría que poco a poco vaya cambiando el estilo de producir. - Se deben impulsar proyectos que fomenten la parte productiva en las familias, involucrando a la juventud, por ejemplo, en la producción de especies menores. Read less

- Hubo divergencias en relación a la existencia de regulación fuerte que evite el deterioro del medio ambiente versus la no aplicación de la regulación existente pero que le faltan ciertos elementos para hacerla más robusta.