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Further exploration could be taken into what platforms are most effective to reach farmers with - or whether the variety of platforms is the most useful. Also, different platforms came out as different ways of reaching farmers. The gender gap is a key consideration when it comes to designing programs and not enough projects and programs are adequately addressing this. The difference between designing something for farmers, rather than with farmers. There was plenty of discussion on how to involve farmers/reach farmers, but more work needs to be done into including them to begin with, from desi... Read moregn and identification of challenges, throughout interventions to place them and value their own knowledge. Additionally: What is a key outcome when it comes to communications? Is it a farmer taking up a new and/or improved practice, or is it a farmer making an informed choice to do, or not do, this same thing? What should the goal of communications be when it comes to this? The issue of young peoples’ involvement in the food system noting that most of the communication platforms target generally adult audiences hence there is need to ensure the balance in targeting between the youth and the adult farmers who are becoming fewer in sub saharan than the burgeoning youth population. Read less

We explored the link between communications and the open, active, and inclusive participation of farmers in food systems. Our participants explored what it means to have dialogue with farmers and the role of communication in ensuring that the systems we design are designed with farmers to meet their specific needs. We took deep dives into principles of engaging rural communities and farmers, and the different types of tools that are necessary to do each one: whether through radio and music, through active participation, through IVR phone in lines, through systems designed to entertain as well ... Read moreas educate, and through other methods of open communication. Too often farmers and rural folks are left out of the conversations that directly involve and are made to benefit them, so the focus of this Dialogue was to discuss how communications brings farmers and rural folk into the conversation, and what is necessary to do that in a meaningful way. On the program explored the various tools and projects different organizations use to include farmers in the discussion and communicate with them; polling participants to explore the different ways they use communications; and amplifying the voices of some few every-day farmers who explained key communication needs. This Independent Dialogue was a precursor to our on-air dialogues which are using radio programs combined with live polling to identify the opinions of farmers on various FSS action tracks in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda. Read less

Overwhelming consensus during the Dialogue was that communications should be a key component of any agriculture project or intervention aimed at small-scale or small-holder farmers in rural areas. For interventions to be truly successful, they need to consider how best to reach farmers in accessible and persuasive ways, but also how to fit feedback into all parts of an intervention, from design to conclusion. Key outcomes: - Use of vernacular and local languages encourages participation and respect within programs - Communications should be first, rather than an afterthought, when it comes to ... Read morethe design of programs and interventions - they are strategic openings for possibilities - Rural communities need to be considered as equal players in the agriculture field - they carry solutions, and tremendous knowledge that should be amplified - Without communication, meaningful change to food systems cannot happen - farmers will not be empowered to make transformative changes based on their own circumstances. In this sense, people-based solutions are important. - There is so much relevant information out there to benefit farmers, but there is often a disconnect between that information existing and it reaching farmers. - Convergence of different communication platforms is critical to meet all farmers informational needs (ie phone in lines, in person training, radio programs, and comic books) - Entertainment is as important as information - to drum up interest, as well as provide education, entertainment alongside relevancy should be considered (a lesson from the Shamba Shape-Up TV programs) - A paradigm shift is essential - we consider how to invite farmers to the table at dialogues and during interventions like this - instead we should be doing the work to be invited to the tables of farmers, so to speak. Relationships are key to this. - Gender gaps must be considered when designing communication systems that are effective (ie during radio programs designate time to address needs of women, or on IVR systems include call-in lines for women) - Interactive radio allows conversations between different members of society - brings farmers’ voices up to the same level as authorities in the region. - Solutions such as Farmerline, Shamba Shape-Up, and Farm Radio International's interactive radio programs are examples of interventions that consider communication from the beginning. - For effective food systems we need to ensure that we are responsive to the needs of farmers, and this can happen through effective communications Read less

1. Sustainable production and agriculture In this independent dialogue, participants were also asked what ideas, ideas, and solutions could be done to get out of the situation above and update the national food system. The results of space production and sustainable agriculture are: • Abolition of the job creation law (UU Cipta Kerja) because this law has the potential to hinder small food producers' access and control over land. • Capacity building for food producers and the younger generation; in the form of intensive training provided to food producers to be able to optimize their produ... Read morection, be able to adapt using technology, and implement sustainable agriculture. • Recognition of land rights for small-scale producers; By providing access to productive land that has not been managed so far, this form can be used as an example of customary rights for indigenous peoples, but in this case for small-scale food producers. • Recognition of indigenous peoples' lands; starting from collecting data on indigenous peoples and their living spaces, then recognizing the existence of indigenous peoples by providing clear and firm legality for their existence and living space areas to minimize cases of expropriation of customary law communities' territories by companies and the state. • Revitalization of a more inclusive education system for agriculture; build an education system that is contextual with the region and existing resources to answer the problems of farmer regeneration. • The village government encourages the protection of agricultural production food; the village government must have a strong commitment to maintaining agricultural production areas so that there is no conversion of productive land functions. • Community based agriculture; in increasing the capacity of food producers, organizing is an absolute thing that must be trained, the existing community is no longer trapped in the interest of getting assistance from the government, more broadly with the existing community, food producers can share various kinds ranging from capital, knowledge, to looking for markets their harvest. • Financial access to food producers; access to capital must be simpler and less complicated, state-owned banks must prioritize loans for food producers with various conveniences and low-interest rates. • Sustainable agricultural practices; Sustainable agricultural practice training should be given intensively to food producers through field schools. • Food development adapted to the characteristics of local resources; To maintain abundant food diversity and optimize the use of existing resources, food development must consider various aspects and be based on multi-disciplinary scientific studies. • The government strengthens SOEs to provide inputs, both fertilizers, and other agricultural inputs so that the agricultural input market can be controlled, so that price fluctuations can be overcome. Or it can hand overproduction to the domestic private sector and be supported by regulations that strengthen the position of local entrepreneurs and farmers as consumers. Read less

2. Fair distribution and trade The thought and ideas of changing the food system at the level of distribution and fair trade generated in the discussion are: • An accountable food import policy so as not to interfere with the production and supply as well as the welfare of local farmers. Fulfillment of food must be from domestic production. The fulfillment of food must also be met in a variety of ways. • Collaboration and partnership also with the private sector to trigger a diverse food distribution and prioritize domestic products. The government must play a stronger role in regulating m... Read moreutually beneficial collaboration among food value chain actors. Thus, a fair partnership occurs. • Capacity building at the farm level to produce quality, hygienic and healthy products. So that this product can be accepted by consumers and compete in the urban market. • Development of non-centralized food production, such as the food estate model. However, by supporting smallholders to consolidate to produce more efficient, healthy, and diverse food. Non-centralized production also accommodates existing local food resources. • Food institutions as regional logistics warehouses need to be accelerated. The function of the logistics warehouse is not only to accommodate food from outside the region but also to accommodate local food products. This logistics warehouse can also be used as a retailer that provides local food for the government's social assistance program. This can trigger changes in local food consumption behavior. • Optimization of institutions closest to rural food producers, in this case in Indonesia, are Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDESA) and Regional-Owned Enterprises (BUMD) to facilitate the distribution and processing of food in villages. The involvement of higher education and research institutions to produce innovations in optimizing regional institutions is very important. • Control of harvest prices and production inputs; the government must maximize and strengthen the role of BULOG/National Food Agency to disburse funds and absorb farmers' harvests in larger quantities, in addition to controlling production inputs, strict and firm supervision must be carried out so that the provision of agricultural production facilities can be targeted and effective. Read less

3. Consumption of healthy and quality food After identifying the food situation in their respective locations, participants then exchanged ideas and suggestions to answer the challenges faced in obtaining healthy and quality food. The results of the discussion room for healthy and quality food consumption are: • Change of mindset or mindset about local food. That local food has many advantages and benefits are also healthy. • Efforts are made to change awareness with a public campaign approach, especially by the government, which is oriented to young people. Young people can become drivers... Read more of future changes in food patterns to “call for” food issues • Mainstreaming of local food wisdom to the public, especially children through education by developing local content of formal and informal education curricula • Prepare a database of biodiversity, especially those related to local food and its nutritional content to the community. Thus, positive perceptions and knowledge regarding local food will be built. • Strengthening literacy and nutrition education for families, especially parents. Knowledge of local food, consumption of healthy, nutritious, and quality food is an important key in realizing sustainable food consumption patterns. • Popularize the food ingredients produced by our farmers in a contemporary way and disseminated by public figures/influencers to go viral, so that the local food market niche grows well. Gastrodiplomacy efforts by the state to other countries to introduce local food can be a solution. Read less

Overall the discussion went smoothly, all participants expressed concerns and ideas and complemented each other. Slight differences of opinion occurred in the form of granting rights to food producers, some participants considered that land rights were fully granted to food producers, while other participants wanted the land to remain state property and food producers were given access to cultivating state land. -the land owned, despite differences of opinion, basically the participants agreed that food producers should have the right to cultivate productive land. From the discussion process, ... Read morethe arguments and statements of the participants complement and strengthen the presentations of other participants. The ideas presented also complement and enrich the inputs submitted by fellow participants. This shows that the food situation faced has the same pattern with location-specific case variations. Read less

The Independent Dialogue Youth For Future of Indonesia Food System was carried out not using an action track approach but using an Indonesian local food system approach and the concept of food sovereignty. Food is a basic need as well as a human right for everyone. Everyone needs adequate food in terms of quantity, nutrition, and safety. Thus everyone can live a healthy and productive life. In addition, food is also a symbol of cultural development and human relations with nature. The current pandemic situation is causing the threat of food insecurity and hunger. Disrupted supply chains and de... Read moreclining purchasing power make food difficult to access, especially for vulnerable groups. The food system, as an integral part of the activities of production, processing, distribution, and consumption as well as food waste management. The food system includes the actors and institutions involved in it, with various interests and benefits derived from it. The challenges of the current and future food system are meeting food needs with the challenges of population growth, climate change, and ecological vulnerability, as well as socio-economic inequality, especially small-scale farmers, poor consumers, and other marginal groups. This requires a more just, sovereign, and resilient food system transformation. Strengthening the food system is seen as a means to significantly reduce hunger, malnutrition, and poverty, as well as strengthening global efforts to deal with the pandemic. As a scope, it is divided into three discussion rooms as follows: 1. Sustainable production which includes access to production sources and sustainable agricultural models and revitalization of educational curricula. We now realize that national and global food systems are not working well. The Covid-19 pandemic shows the fragility of our food system that runs from time to time. The food system, which consists of a long series of processes from production, distribution, to consumption, shows its fragility on all fronts. Food production is a process or activity of procuring food by food producers which are then distributed to the consumer level for consumption. To maintain the sustainability of food production while at the same time maintaining the survival of food producers, talking about food production cannot be separated from sustainable production methods. 2. Encompassing fair distribution and trade, fair market, market access for everyone, gastro diplomacy, distribution. Equality and access to added value in the value chain. The main focus in this section is Fair Food Distribution and Trade. The food distribution in question is how food from the land reaches the plate on our dining table. This includes what the value chain is like and the phenomenon of loss does not go unnoticed. Meanwhile, fair food trade is a trading concept based on open partnership, upholding justice, dialogue, and transparency. From these two things, we see many phenomena and situations that occur in Indonesia. Of course, from the eyes of young Indonesians. 3. Consumption of healthy and quality food, including the wealth of local food sources, development of local food systems, access to healthy and quality food literacy. The main focus of consuming healthy and quality food is to identify the situation of food consumption in the communities where the participants live and explore ideas for improving the food system, especially at the level of consumption. Read less

1. Sustainable production and agriculture • The main findings in this room broadly state that most food producers are unable to access productive sources for food production, especially land. Land problems are a serious problem in the production sector because data shows that most food producers who depend on land only have a minimum of 0.5 ha of land to produce food. • Land issues do not only occur to food producers who sell their products but also to indigenous peoples whose food production is only used to fulfill their daily lives, various cases were also found, such as the non-recognit... Read moreion of their customary territory, the unilateral takeover of land by the company, to the seizure of living space they. • The ability or capacity of food producers is also a requirement that according to participants is something that must be met to achieve efficient and sustainable food production with environmentally friendly agricultural principles. The development of the food sector also needs to consider various things such as the characteristics of local resources, culture, and regional typology. • Farmers are increasingly dependent on external agricultural inputs. This dependence is certainly very dangerous if there is an increase in the price of agricultural inputs, it will also increase the production costs of farmers. Current agricultural inputs Mostly large companies that tend to give rise to injustice. • Food producers' access to finance for production capital is also a serious problem faced by food producers because the requirements to apply for loans are not following the business character of food producers. In addition, the absence of control over harvest prices and production inputs also makes food producers often lose money. 2. Fair distribution and trade. • Prices are not good enough for farmers and are more often played by the market to the detriment of farmers. Farmers get the least profit compared to other chain actors. The bargaining position of farmers is still low due to various obstacles such as weak institutional capacity, inadequate product quality, and contribution, and others. • The food import policy that continues to occur has implications for the suppression of farmers' products. Besides being unable to compete in terms of quality, farmers' products also cannot compete with the prices of imported products that have experienced dumping. As a result, product prices at the farm level fall to a very low level and are detrimental to farmers. • Farmers' products are disrupted and unable to compete when entering modern markets and in urban areas. A long value chain not only causes low profits for farmers but also reduces product quality, especially when handling processes are not good. As a result, agricultural products cannot compete with large-scale agricultural products/companies. Whereas there is a trend of increasing food consumption in urban areas of around 30%. • Large food traders or large retailers are mostly filled with processed or imported food products. Local farmers' products are still unable to compete and fill the food market very little in modern markets. • The food logistics system is not yet adaptive or following the typology of our country, namely archipelagic islands. In addition, our food production is still concentrated in certain areas and is not evenly distributed all the time. Thus there is a food gap in food production centers and consumer centers. The food estate policy promoted by the government has even made the centralization of food production concentrated in certain areas. This centralization will eventually increase distribution costs to other regions. The existing logistical institutions are not yet optimal in managing domestic food logistics. 3. Consumption of healthy and quality food, • The main findings of this room show that the definition of healthy and quality food consumption is still a luxury for most members of society. The lack of literacy about healthy and quality food, both in terms of source and meaning, has caused many sources of healthy and quality food, especially local food, to be neglected. • Market policies that are not transparent and do not favor the use of local food sources as healthy and quality food have created some derivative problems, such as competition for local food as a source of healthy and quality food, low technology, and opportunities for access to local food. Food as a source of healthy and quality food is available in large quantities and is affordable both in terms of area and access. • In some indigenous communities, the imposition of uniformity in planting materials, planting methods to production technology, and land grabbing undermine local food production as an affordable source of healthy and quality food. In the end, it weakens the food security of the community and even causes new diseases for the community, especially indigenous peoples. • There is a change in culture and people's preferences, especially in urban areas, towards food consumption. Urban people prefer to buy food and food that has a good appearance and has health insurance (low contamination, hygienic, healthy products, etc.). Read less

The central theme of the Dialogue Agro-technologies, farmer tools for agricultural sustainability in Latin America was INNOVATION and NEW TECHNOLOGIES as solutions to improve agricultural productivity in a sustainable way and respond to the challenges posed by the Pathways of Action of the Summit and the Sustainable Development Goals, SDG. Currently some of the difficulties faced by the adoption of new technologies by farmers in Latin America are: • Over-regulation or outdated legislation • Lack of confidence in science and in the scientific data that support new technologies • The absen... Read morece of suitable mechanisms to transfer technologies particularly to small / medium farmers. • The educational lag and difficulties of access to information technologies of small farmers. How to overcome these obstacles and move forward with actions that allow the adoption of more sustainable technologies was the challenge we raised in this Dialogue, along with another challenge faced by farmers in Latin America who export their products: the official and private obstacles that are imposed in international trade through private certifications or public policies that ignore the particularities of production in Latin America. The participants in this dialogue discussed these issues in three debate rooms. The main proposals are set out below. Read less

1. It is necessary to migrate towards an efficient and comprehensive agriculture based on sustainability that is not defined based on the production system: conventional, organic, hydroponic, ecological, etc. and focus on producing in a sustainable way with the integration of the best possible practices. 2. Small farmers must have greater access to new technologies, particularly information technologies (Apps, GPS, etc.), and maintain over time the adoption of technologies with indicators that allow evaluating their benefits. 3. Technical assistance programs should be strengthened with the par... Read moreticipation of academia, governments and large producers with knowledge to share with the small ones. They should include more effective communication about the benefits of new technologies so that farmers can understand, adopt and use them appropriately. 4. A mediating entity can facilitate the transition and implementation of a more sustainable agriculture, connecting producers, marketers, governments and academia to apply sustainable technologies and practices that are valued by consumers. 5. It is necessary to update regulations and harmonize regulatory criteria at the regional level. In addition to science-based regulations, a positive political will is required in favor of the adoption of new technologies. 6. The academic and scientific community must play a more leading role in discussions for decision-making by governments and congresses. Many decisions about technology adoption are made under pressure from public opinion, based on fear, not science. 7. Private certifications in their objective of advancing towards sustainability ignore and minimize the socio-economic context and geographical conditions of the tropical climates of Latin America. As a result, they require production conditions far removed from the reality of Latin American fields, particularly in the control of pests, weeds and diseases. Read less

Discussion topic 1 How to advance in the adoption of agro-technologies that facilitate the implementation of sustainable food systems? 1. Migrate towards an agriculture based on sustainability that is perceived as part of the solution. The inefficiencies of agricultural production can be solved through the integration and correct use of new and existing technologies, such as drones, NBTs, and precision agriculture, which can be measured by indicators: carbon footprint, efficiency in the use of water, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium. This effort must be valued by the value chain that goes from ... Read morethe producer, the industry and the consumer, so that it can be consolidated. An integrated, articulated agriculture interconnected in sustainability will be a type of production that can evolve towards continuous improvement with measurable indicators. An integrated system also allows the triple helix, academy-industry-government, to provide solutions on a common goal, which is sustainable production. This requires a validator that allows integrating the system and a value proposition. a. Validator or independent agent For the small and medium farmer to be able to access the main markets and for their effort to be recognized on the basis of sustainability, a dialogue and an alliance with the large marketers, the value chain, and agricultural producers is necessary. This requires that neutral institutions such as IICA have the capacity to bring large buyers to the same table, with small and medium farmers in a dialogue where neutral institutions balance their forces in the disproportion between small farmers / large traders. This mechanism makes it possible to provide sustainable solutions and strengthen the system linked to the triple helix (academy-industry-government) with a view to developing standards and practices that avoid over-regulation, allow economic access to technologies, and recognize the associated value to sustainability by the production chain. b. A value proposition with organized farmers, digital platforms with indicators and recognition of sustainability. It is essential that farmers organize themselves into associations, cooperatives or similar organizations. The consolidation of agricultural producers’ associations should be promoted as the tool through which they can be seen, heard and have the strength and representativeness necessary to work with economic agents (government, market, academia, etc.) There must be a connection of the system through public-private-social digital platforms in favor of sustainable agriculture and having sustainability indicators recognized throughout the chain. 2. It is essential to avoid over-regulation of agricultural technologies Access to technology is impaired by over-regulation and slow and bureaucratic regulations that result in limited access to technologies and, eventually, in the illegal flow of agricultural inputs. On the contrary, science-based and expeditious standards allow the arrival of agricultural production technologies, guarantee formal access, and more sustainable production. The European vision on the use of technologies does not take into account the needs of the main food producing countries, which translates into excessive regulations that ignore, as well as private (secondary) standards, the conditions of production and the geography of Latin America. This over-regulation may end up being imposed in the region with negative consequences by delaying the arrival and adoption of technologies or contributing to the illegal trade of the same. 3. Improving communication of the benefits of innovations and the science that supports them, and reducing the distance between academia and politics, are essential factors for a better understanding of scientific data in the definition of public policies. Although in Latin America academia and scientists have worked to help and inform about science being the basis for legislative and regulatory decisions, greater efforts are needed in this area. It is necessary for universities and academics to be more proactive and willing to take science out of the laboratories and take it into public policy definiti Read less

Discussion topic 2 How to ensure that the regulation of new technologies facilitates access for all farmers, particularly those of medium and small scale? 1. Regulatory systems must be updated to promote and facilitate the adoption of the SDGs Some of the regulatory frameworks in Latin America must be modernized in light of compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, they must also encourage the use of environmentally friendly technologies, prioritize scientific and technical data over public perceptions and be designed with regulatory criteria that are regionally harmonized. The ... Read moremodernization of laws under these approaches will positively impact better access to export markets, as well as greater traceability of the correct use of technologies. 2. It is essential to avoid over-regulation of agricultural technologies Access to technology is impaired by over-regulation and slow and bureaucratic regulations that result in limited access to technologies and, eventually, in the illegal flow of agricultural inputs. On the contrary, science-based and expeditious standards allow the arrival of agricultural production technologies, guarantee formal access, and more sustainable production. The European vision on the use of technologies does not take into account the needs of the main food producing countries, which translates into excessive regulations that ignore, as well as private (secondary) standards, the conditions of production and the geography of Latin America. This over-regulation may end up being imposed in the region with negative consequences by delaying the arrival and adoption of technologies or contributing to the illegal trade of the same. 3. Improving communication of the benefits of innovations and the science that supports them, and reducing the distance between academia and politics, are essential factors for a better understanding of scientific data in the definition of public policies. Although in Latin America academia and scientists have worked to help and inform about science being the basis for legislative and regulatory decisions, greater efforts are needed in this area. It is necessary for universities and academics to be more proactive and willing to take science out of the laboratories and take it into public policy definition scenarios. More effective communication to the general public (consumers) is also necessary for them to understand the use of technologies in agriculture and the science that demonstrates their safe use. Read less

Discussion topic 3: How to overcome the obstacles to international trade imposed by certifications and residue requirements that vary according to destination markets by 2030? 1. The concept of shared responsibility is essential to advance the sustainability of agriculture Positioning the concept of shared responsibility is necessary to avoid that all the onus that sustainability demands falls on the farmer, and is shared throughout the value chain, particularly when it comes to export products dependent on private certifications or policies such as the Green Deal of the European Union. 2. Pri... Read morevate certifications must recognize the geographic and production characteristics of Latin America The requirements established in private certifications must (i) be the product of a dialogue between the entire value chain, (ii) be based on science and technique, and (iii) pay special attention to production conditions in Latin America, both in terms of the existence of pests and diseases, as in its geography. 3. Consumers must understand the conditions around food production in Latin America Today consumers are more and better informed, and prefer to purchase food produced with certified socio-environmental standards, for this reason it is necessary to sensitize them so that they can dimension food production in all its complexity, especially the conditions imposed by tropical climates. Read less

Only one area of divergence was presented related to how informed consumers are of food production. The doubts around this issue revolved around: • Are we talking about consumers who have a greater sensitivity to social and environmental issues, or are we dealing with consumers who are not so aware of these aspects and instead their preferences when buying are based on other reasons such as price? • Do consumers who value a certified product really know the conditions surrounding such production? • Is the informed consumer aware of the conditions surrounding production? Are they willing ... Read moreto assume part of the costs and / or financial burdens that the farmer must bear in his activity? Read less

These are the priority actions needed in the next 3 years that will have the greatest impact in improving child nutrition: (1) Development of food-based dietary guidelines, including child/adolescent-specific guidelines (2) Advancing Nutrition Education: A healthy food environment and nutrition education can foster and support better food choices and practices among/for children. A child’s food environment starts from home, school, and the school environment, there is therefore an urgent need for an appropriate nutrition education both at home for and by parents and the school environment. (... Read more3) Children’s eating habits orientation can be changed by using school curricula to provide nutrition education in schools. (4) Community mobilization, sensitization, and extension services through various health care services, to drive nutrition education in guiding parents and caregivers on how to change children’s eating behaviour. (5) Digitalization – Games, apps, infographics, and social media that will shape behavioral change communication among children. The use of social media among school children (6) Nutrition education for producers to deliver nutritious food products The indicators for success: (1) Existence of food-based dietary guidelines to structure nutrition education (2) Nutrition information is provided through multiple settings (including health facilities, workplaces, schools, faith-based gatherings, and communities) and channels (conventional and contemporary) Actions needed: (1) Government agencies to develop policies and programs to increase public awareness of the importance of a healthy diet for children and foster food environments that enable healthy food choices for children (from first 1,000 days to school age and pre-teen children) (2) Academia such as the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN) to build critical manpower for effective nutrition education (3) The private sector, civil society organizations, and development partners to invest and build the capacities of individuals and institutions to adopt food and nutrition practices that promote good health and nutrition (skills). Read less

(1)Some stakeholders perceive that the targeting of school-aged children and/or provision of school meals is not a cost-effective or efficient way to improve nutrition. Such stakeholders noted that meals served by the programme were sometimes of poor quality, programme costs did not appear sustainable, and school feeding was disregarding (2) Some key stakeholders perceive that certain foods that are widely accepted and are part of the food culture, including instant noodles, should be mandatorily fortified to increase the reach of fortified products and consequently increase micronutrient cove... Read morerage. Other stakeholders considered instant noodles to be an unhealthy food and highlighted that there is no point mandating fortification for a product that you would like people to consume less of. (3) It was emphasized that establishing nutrient and ingredient standards for food products targeted at children, around which all stakeholders can converge, will be crucial for decision making around specific products (4) The cost of doing business in Nigeria has a direct implication on the cost of nutritious foods. Compliance with food and labelling standards can increase the costs of doing business and make products more expensive, leading to reduced demand, consequent defaulting by the private sector in a bid to reduce costs, and conflicts between the private sector and regulatory agencies. Costs associated with compliance with improved standards can be managed if most of the raw materials used by the private sector are locally sourced at lower costs. Hence, more efficient production and backward integration need to be prioritized, the responsibility of parents to their children. (5) It was highlighted that school feeding is a global intervention to improve the nutrition of school children and is being implemented in 161 countries across all income levels. Hence, the government should identify innovative financing to sustain the programme and improve the quality of meals. (6) Traditional food culture is not very compatible with millennial and digital parents and employed women, leading to a loss of knowledge about traditional foods and how to prepare them, and an increase in the demand for convenience foods. (7) There is aspirational food consumption towards foods that can be classified as unhealthy, due to modernization, urbanization, economic development, and market globalization. To be effective, therefore, nutrition education must better understand attitudes, beliefs, preferences, cultural factors, market and product factors, and economic factors. This understanding should then be harnessed to inspire, motivate, and enable people to change behaviour, using interdisciplinary methods across the fields of health education, psychology, and sociology, among other fields. Read less

These are the priority actions needed in the next 3 years that will have the greatest impact in improving child nutrition: (1) Expansion of mandatory fortification process to local millers, including related regulation (2) Enable linkages between small and medium scale enterprises and research institutes, to facilitate knowledge transfer and increase the production, supply, and affordability of nutritious food products (3) Investment in research institutes to develop product solution to improve nutrition (4) Strengthen and expand/increase platforms that provide technical support for running nu... Read moretritious food products business to small and medium scale enterprises (5) Assessments to understand the needs of small and medium scale enterprises and tailor financial support according to needs (6) Improve fortification governance and coordination mechanisms (7) Implementing actions to ensure that micronutrients in fortified foods do not get lost during storage, display, and repackaging at the retail level (8) Fortification compliance monitoring, coupled with regulation (9) Identify innovations and/or new food vehicles to increase the reach of micronutrients through mandatory fortification (10) Scale-up and sustain the availability of planting materials for biofortified crops (11) Expand the commercialization of biofortified crops (12) Widespread awareness creation, including at community levels, about biofortified crops and their benefits The indicators for success: (1) The numbers of people consuming biofortified crops will tremendously increase (2) Fortified food products will retain their nutrient contents along the value chain stages from production to procurement by the final consumer Actions needed: (1) Research institutes, including the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), and Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute, need to more widely advertise products that they have developed that can be commercialized by small and medium scale enterprises (2) National Agricultural Seeds Council should be engaged in ensuring the availability of planting materials for biofortified crops (3) Private sector organizations, including small and medium scale enterprises, partner with research organizations to commercialize products from research and increase access to nutritious foods (4) National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to monitor and enforce fortification standards more systematically (5) Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) to provide technical assistance to regulatory agencies and increase accountability for monitoring, and enforcing standards (6) Scaling Up Nutrition Movement Business Network (SBN) to provide technical assistance to small and medium-scale enterprises to facilitate compliance with fortification standards (7) HarvestPlus, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), and Scaling Up Nutrition Movement Business Network (SBN) to support the expansion and commercialization of biofortified crops (8) Development partners (including Aliko Dangote Foundation and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) to support the effective delivery and scale-up of fortification and biofortification Read less

These are the priority actions needed in the next 3 years that will have the greatest impact in improving child nutrition: (1) Establishment of nutrient, ingredients, and safety standards for food products, meals, and snacks provided to children, including in or around schools and homes, to ensure that healthy foods are provided to children and adolescents and unhealthy foods are minimized (2) Development of a nutrient profiling system to guide food labeling, nutrition, and health claims, and marketing restrictions (3) Continuous food safety advocacy including education and training of street ... Read morefood vendors and food businesses on basic nutrition and food safety and ensuring fair practices in food chains. The safety of food is paramount; if it is not safe, it is not food! (4) Mandatory food labeling, including front of pack labeling (5) Increased enforcement of standards through sustainable and adequate funding mechanism, larger manpower, and technical capacity for the regulatory system to achieve faster monitoring and evaluation and feedback The indicators for success: (1) Decentralized food registration to geopolitical zones, to help food organizations launch nutritious foods into the market quicker (2) Shorter food registration time: the inclusion of digital processes will reduce delay in getting products to the market (3) Reduced morbidity: safe foods will promote health, but unsafe foods will promote morbidity among the target age groups (4) Adequate monitoring and evaluation will reduce defaulters Actions needed: (1) Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology should be engaged regarding street foods and food safety, as they have implemented a successful program in 7 LGAs in Lagos, Nigeria. There is a need to also extend this program to other parts of the country. (2) National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission need to be effectively engaged in setting, monitoring, and enforcing standards (3) Choices International Foundation and other partners (including the Nigerian Heart Foundation) to support the development of standards and nutrient profiling system (4) Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) to provide technical assistance to regulatory agencies and increase accountability for setting, monitoring, and enforcing labeling and marketing standards (5) Scaling Up Nutrition Business Network (SBN) to provide technical assistance to small and medium scale enterprises to facilitate compliance with labeling standards Read less

Africa is ranked second to Asia as the continent with the most malnourished children in the world. Within Africa, Nigeria suffers the brunt of malnutrition with the most significant proportion of under-nourished children. The National Nutrition and Health Survey (2018) estimated that 32% of Nigerian children under the age of 5 are considered stunted. This implies that about 1 in every 3 Nigerian children suffers from chronic malnutrition. In addition, 7% of Nigerian children under the age of 5 suffer from wasting, 19.9% are underweight, and 1.2% are overweight. Although UNICEF defined a child ... Read moreas a human being below eighteen, children above the age of 6 are rarely included in national surveys, policies, programs, and budgets. Studies carried out on state levels show the prevalence of malnutrition in all its forms among school-aged children and adolescents as well. These data show that Nigeria is suffering from malnutrition in all its forms, and nutrition actions focusing on children in all stages are needed to improve nutrition outcomes. Malnutrition has a direct negative influence on the immune system, making malnourished individuals susceptible to diseases, worsening illnesses, and even causing death. According to UNICEF, undernutrition is the direct or underlying cause of 45% of deaths of children younger than five years. As well as the cause of poor performance in school, which leads to low socio-economic achievement, is one of the functional consequences of chronic malnutrition, that is, in addition to physical growth retardation. The effects of malnutrition in all its forms in childhood are not limited to childhood. They often persist into adulthood by predisposing malnourished children to diet-related NCDs later in life. As a consequence, malnutrition has a long-term impact on both the community and the country at large. Malnutrition can cause a decline in economic development. Thus, countries with higher rates of malnutrition tend to experience retardation in the economy. Given the malnutrition as mentioned above situation among children in Nigeria and its relation to morbidity, mortality and economic development in the country, tackling malnutrition in all its forms is vital to the country. Particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has shown a clear threat to food and nutrition security, malnutrition requires urgent prioritization to ensure that past nutrition gains are not lost. A low-quality diet is one of the causes of malnutrition, whether overweight, obesity, or under-nutrition, including micronutrient deficiency and diet-related NCDs. As evidenced by the prevalence of malnutrition in Nigeria, many children do not receive the diets needed in the right quality, quantity, and frequency for their growth and development. The food system's role is to deliver a nutritious, safe, affordable, diverse and sustainable diet. The food system is challenged in supporting food choices consistent with healthy diets and good nutrition outcomes. However, the nutritional needs of children, most especially children above 5, are often not prioritized. This is a missed opportunity because school years represent a critical period for the growth, development, cognitive potential, and survival of children and the formation of long-term dietary and lifestyle habits. Although children in Nigeria constitute almost half of the whole population, they are often neglected in the growing discourse about food systems. The ongoing Food System Dialogues offer an opportunity for shared understanding and experience among various stakeholders working in the Food System to create pathways, intentions, and commitments to improve child nutrition in Nigeria. The overall objective of the independent dialogue is to discuss and recommend workable pathways for the improvement of child nutrition through evidence-based food system actions in Nigeria. To understand challenges and explore untapped opportunities in the food system for better child nutrition outcomes Read less