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Producers need to be paid and supported in such a way that they can have a higher financial gain for their labor and work. This will also give them more autonomy in selling their products to a greater majority of people at an affordable price. Distribution needs to change its current way of working, namely to take the best products (in terms of product and nutrient quality) and send it to the bidder of highest price (wealthy nations or wealthy neighborhoods). In order to achieve this transition, we need to give education and access to all communities, not just those with status, power, and we... Read morealth. We need to further connect networks of people, producers, consumers, distributors so that there is transition of information along the value chain, transparency, care, and understanding about how a product is made. This will imply changing the status of food from commodity to public good. There is a necessity for change in terms of how we frame our food system. We can do this by collecting data at all points in the supply chain. This data should not serve as a marketing strategy or profit tool for retailers / brand owners but rather as a way to shape food and trade policy to support local communities, create new financial instruments to support producers, and create information that is useful for consumers. Read less

There were few divergences within and amongst the discussion groups, but participants highlighted some critical areas of divergence that involve difficult trade-offs:1) The tension between locality/resiliency and affordability in order to scale virtuous food systems especially in light of population growth.2) The tension between the efficiency of highly technological food systems vs. going back to nature and the multiple benefits in terms of health and environmental of diversification.3) The trade-offs in terms of what are most important issues to tackle in terms of distribution ... Read morepractices: the competitiveness of low-cost imports versus local production versus the need to ensure efficient and nutritious food distribution; etc.4) The risk of over-romanticize certain professions linked to agricultural production and farming as this over-romantization risks to impede connecting traditions which are revitalized by innovative approaches.5) The trade-offs between consumers’ access (buying capability) and producers’ income.6) The question on how to reshape and redefine agricultural and production incentives (including subsidies).No clear answers have been identified to address these challenges, however there has been consensus that the majority of these questions could be better approached by using a true cost approach. These aspects will be explored further in light of the redaction of Bites of Transfoodmation manifesto. Read less

The narrative that has emerged in the last years shows a massive reduction in biodiversity, a de-link to seasonality of consumption, more food sophistication, and a reduction in the time we devote to prepare food to adjust to our increasingly busy and quick lifestyles. Food used to be the main element of societal and family gatherings, and has slowly become more a matter of feeding and keeping us fit. This trend is also the result of globalization of trade that came about with colonization and reduction of the costs of production, opening the path to shifting from primary sector based economie... Read mores to cheap labour based industrialization. After the Second World War and up until the 1990s, this trend was further accelerated by the massive use of marketing strategies, the fast urbanization of the population, the reduced average size of family units, the growth of pre-cooked food with the de-linking between rural and urban areas, all intertwined with rapid economic and tertiary sector growth. In this context, big data was already starting to influence and enforce specific narratives. Did this narrative work? Yes - but fundamental elements such as equity and sustainability were missing in the equation. The narrative started to change in the 1990s focusing on a technocratic language, slowly starting to shift the focus towards sustainability (ESG in financial terms), as well as to an increased rights-based approach to food while feeding a fast growing and urbanized population.What about the narrative of the future? Our first two BoT worshops showed us that the future of food is an indicator of the new macro-narrative which tells us that time has come to embrace diversity, bring about a culture of empowerment, assure that in anything we do we are considering the true cost of what we are doing, and this implies that we need to rethink our habitats. Why? Because we feel the requirement to do it and more importantly, we also can. We have all we need to do this. We have better knowledge of the true costs and the trade-offs; we are going towards personalized diets determined by health considerations; we know that inequalities exist and increasingly define social determinants of health related to food consumption; and that food marketing can be better tailored to drivers of sustainable modernization of food-related processes.The major focus of the Dialogue was to discuss the future of production, transformation and distribution systems keeping the evolution of consumption patterns as an entry point. Participants were helped to project themselves into this subject by two showcases, namely a Swiss valley that reorganized its social fabric and structure with local organic farming and processing and the experience of a zero waste catering based on a defined traditional contest.The discussion was focused around four main questions/discussion topics:a) How can we link the need to rethink our urbanized habitats to evolving production systems? Will be proximity and diversification of production a way to unite consumers and producers?b) Speaking about true costs, is food waste prevention and reduction a way to create awareness and commitment by both citizens and authorities?c) In the evolution towards sustainable urban life habits, how will key components of civism like empowerment and rights based approaches be affected by traditions and innovations in the food chains?d) Will reduction of inequalities in terms of food consumption depend on a total reshuffle of the transformation and distribution chains? Read less

The Dialogue was characterised by rich and animated discussions. The variety of participants' profiles in terms of background and profession allowed mutual learning and paved the way for new perspectives, while confirming the relevance of some central points such as the importance of embracing diversity through new and adapted traditions, to bring about a culture of empowerment and social proximity, to consider the true cost of what we are doing and the need to transform and adapt our habitats.Participants acknowledged the need for a change of narrative, with a stronger focus on embracing... Read more diversity, bringing about a culture of empowerment, and rethinking our habitats while reconsidering the value of food with the lenses of a true cost approach. This implies that we look at sustainability, a key feature of a true cost based economy, beyond a technical ESG approach. For this, an increased awareness, passion, curiosity, knowledge and inclusion in all sectors of the food systems are guiding features. Tearing down the invisible wall that has traditionally divided urban and rural areas, means linking sustainability with social proximity, where enacting through food a virtuous cycle of civism, responsibility, connectivity and education, will lead to new forms of social fabric. One way to get there might profit from initiatives aiming at setting up a new tradition pattern, where our natural need for a sense of belonging couples with the revaluation of ancient know-how blended with innovative approaches. Often this can happen with an initial incentive, thus with a political will. Critically in this respect are pre-conditions, where inequalities and power concentration is persisting as this might be a frustrating factor, especially in terms of accessibility. Changing the status of food from commodity to public good, might help. After all, food is a recognized right. This recognition leads to taking into account its true cost but also its true value. A fresh look into production, transformation and distribution towards a healthy and sustainable diet for all will bring us to profound systemic changes.During the Dialogue, particicipants embraced the two real life examples of Valposchiavo and Altatto as positive and future-desirable realities. But how can they be connected, multiplied and expanded? Imagine the world of the future as one big and dense fabric, made up of smaller economic, social, natural and governing fabrics or networks. Within each of these, small, independent and well-functioning realities, such as Valposchiavo and Altatto, stand ready to be connected with one another. Common elements and shared values as well as communication, exchanges, new standards, incentives and norms enable this connection and ultimately form the building blocks of the world’s fabric. By creating more of these realities and reinforcing the density of the different fabrics, a unifying vision for a more sustainable and resilient future is both communicated and enacted. We keep hearing that these realities can not grow because they rely on a romantic perception that can only work on a small scale and among the wealthiest of the world. What about reconsidering the concept of the notion of scaling up? After all, the interconnectivity, the access to know-how, the change of the perception of reality introduced by the digitalization era is showing that, while an acceleration in terms of classic scaling up is occurring, at the same time a tissue of new forms of interconnected local economies blending new traditions, social proximity, sustainability and affordability is growing fast. To have an inclusive conversation and truly embrace diversity, thus avoiding a Eurocentric (or romantic?) vision of the future, we must discuss and dive deeper into the topics of inequality, power concentration and accessibility. Read less

There is a strong need to focus on avoiding conflicts between urban and rural areas; trying to create a denser bond between theses two realities and destroy that invisible wall that divides them. Rural and and marginalised areas should have access to new technologies, while urbanized habitats should be reorganized with an eye on nature and urban/peri-urban food production and processing. Education and trust should be the entry points to create new important supply opportunities and consequently a higher quality of life for all. We define this approach using the term of social proximity. T... Read morehis implies more sensibilization, awareness, passion, curiosity, knowledge, and inclusion in all sectors of the food systems. A controlled and responsible use of new DNA editing technologies is accepted, only if these will not compromise traditions, typical products, biodiversity and health. Read less

Waste and losses of non-renewable resources do not exist in ecosystems. By considering the true cost of food (including externalities such as human and natural resources, transport, health, subsidies), the system will not produce food waste and losses anymore as the price will be too high. A solution would be to have shorter and more circular supply chains, exchanging only the goods necessary for every community to have a healthy diet. We need transparency and trust, accompanied by a change in regulations in a way that waste and losses are considered either as expensive or as a resource t... Read moreo close a loop. We need to reconsider the status of consumers as queens and kings and accept what natural resources can give us without compromising their ability to do so for next generations. Lastly, concrete initiatives to reduce food waste and losses (such as the app "Too Good To Go”) are useful if they bring the system closer to the true costs of food, thus as a transition instrument. Read less

Tradition is a dynamic and complex concept due to its constructed nature. For this reason, it cannot be said that tradition and innovation are opposed, because the latter needs the former and innovation has always been part of development. The future often draws inspiration from the past and it would therefore be more accurate to speak of innovations as "new traditions". Moreover, innovation is necessary when the current situation does not produce sustainable results. In order to link tradition and innovation to create a better future in terms of food production and consumption, cooperation be... Read moretween the different generations is necessary as much as the reform of the education system. Finally, responsibility lies in our personal choices and for this reason it is essential that all those who care about the world and our future take a few small steps in the right direction. Read less

La tenue de la concertation a respecté les lignes directrices et les recommandations de référence des Coordonnateurs. Le dialogue était conduit de façon interactive en mode atelier- animation ; ce qui a permis l’implication active de tous les participants aux travaux du dialogue et voir même, l’appropriation par toutes et tous des résultats de cette activité en RDC. Les jeunes ont été sensibilisés au programme d’appui dans l’agroalimentaire et la promotion de l’agriculture intelligente face au climat. Les Étudiants en sciences agronomiques dans la salle étaient eux aus... Read moresi, incité à installer des projets agro- alimentaires et à restituer les résultats du dialogue auprès de leurs paires dans les universités, avec les professeurs et les parents. Le modérateur avait permis à tout le monde de s’exprimer librement et tous les points de divergence et de convergence ont été émergé dans la satisfaction de toutes et tous. L’approche genre était également au rendez-vous, les femmes et les hommes s’étaient exprimés parfaitement sans aucune barrière.Les causes et déterminants de la sécurité alimentaire ont été abordés dans les moindres détails ; les facteurs en interaction pour améliore les systèmes alimentaires, éviter les gaspillages et améliore l’état nutritionnel des enfants, femmes, jeunes ont étaient également abordés. Les discussions-échanges et facilitation des groupes, avaient abordés au même moment, les interventions agricoles respectueuses de l’environnement et la nécessité d’adopter les bonnes pratiques agricoles intelligentes face au climat, pour la sécurité alimentaire, les revenus et l’atténuation des nuisances humaines sur l’environnement et émissions des gaz à effet de serre. Tous les axes de la concertation avaient démontré que ce sont les revenus agricoles qui permettront d’améliorer durablement les conditions de vie de population congolaise. Imaginer une République Démocratique du Congo, où la population vivrait mieux, tout en préservant l’environnement et généralisant l’application de bonnes systèmes alimentaire, à tous les niveaux : national, provincial, et des collectivités locales. Read less

Il sied de noter qu’il existe un défi agro-alimentaire majeur pour la RD CONGO.  Les conditions naturelles sont pourtant particulièrement favorables aux activités agricoles ;  Les précipitations en quantités suffisantes (qui permettent deux saisons culturales par an) ;  Important réseau hydrographique, fertilité des sols ;  Large ensoleillement. Le pays se caractérise également, du fait de sa taille, par la diversité des conditions climatiques et géologiques, ce qui permet une grande diversité des cultures. Triste paradoxe de la RDC : La population vit en deça ... Read moredu seuil de pauvreté et ne mange pas à sa faim ; MAIS, seulement 10 % du potentiel agricole du pays est exploité ; Les données éco-climatiques sont partout favorables à l’agriculture. Ce qui veut dire, qu’en terme de besoins et manifestation d’intérêts de la partie gouvernementale, il y a une manifestation et un engagement formel à ce que la décision d’étudier certains aspects spécifiques des systèmes alimentaires de manière plus approfondie. Donc, il y a bénéfice d’urgence de lancer les activités d’envergure du Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA)en RDC, pour soutenir la sécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle et renforcer la résilience des communautaire Read less

Les résultats aux sujets de discussion ont rapporté que la RDC pourrait devenir l’un des plus grands pays agricoles de la planète car elle a l’opportunité de mettre en place des techniques durables qui sauvegardent l’environnement et la durabilité des systèmes alimentaire. Ce qui justifie à suffisance l’intérêt que toutes et tous les participants avait manifestés lors de la session du dialogue du 7 janvier 2021. Cependant pour obtenir de meilleurs résultats et assurer la durabilité des actifs créer par la tenue de ce dialogue des Experts multisectoriels, une meilleure org... Read moreanisation et le renforcement des capacités des communautés au niveau national, provincial et local, par la formation et le suivi dans les différents domaines et pistes d’actions coché (1,2,3,4, et 5) d’intervention du CSA dans les systèmes alimentaires est nécessaire et urgent pour la RDC. Ces interventions devraient se faire dans l’ensemble de 26 provinces et la capitale Kinshasa. Les partenaires d’interventions seront le Gouvernement, les privés, la société civile /ONG-Femme et Enfant, et les partenaires techniques et financiers, ONG Internationales et locales intervenant dans le domaine de la sécurité alimentaire. En raison de nombre de ménages en insécurité alimentaire, l’élaboration du Cadre Stratégique et la mise en place du Plan d’Action de la RDC pour renforcer la sécurité alimentaire et éradiquer la pauvreté est urgemment souhaitée. Ce Plan d’Action permettra la mise en cohérence de toutes interventions visant le développement et promotion des systèmes alimentaires durables. Read less

Durant la concertation du 7 janvier 2021, la facilitation et l’approche adoptée avait permissent une meilleure compréhension commune et inclusive de toutes et tous participants. Il sied de noter qu’il n’y a pas vraiment des points des divergences au point de dégager deux tendances, mais, certains ont affirmés que malgré la modicité du budget alloué aux secteurs du Développement Rural et de l’Agriculture un accent doit être mis sur la recherche scientifique par le mécanisme de subvention des Instituts Nationaux de Recherche Agronomique au pays. La stratégie et le plan d�... Read more�action qui sera bientôt élaboré serviront de support pour la promotion des systèmes alimentaires durables en RDC. Read less

The focus of the Dialogue was on: (i) environmental and economic shocks on African Food Systems caused by global pandemic (ii) examining gaps and functionalities of African Food Systems (iii) a comprehensive exploration of key players of Food Systems (including Chefs, Refugees, Youth Voices)

KEY FINDINGS: 1. Africa’s rural areas and food systems will have to play a bigger role in absorbing young job seekers than they did in other regions, given the continued growth of rural populations.2. There are more Opportunities in food systems for youth but very little is seen across boardKEY RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Invest not only in education but also more broadly in sectors such as transportation and energy infrastructure to create inclusive food system opportunities.2. Create more vibrant rural economies, support policies and initiatives aimed at enhancing youth’s long-term ... Read moreeconomic prospects, which in turn will cultivate trust in government among young people to build resilient food systems.3. Focus on broad-based growth, not just on youth, to create an economic environment in which food system businesses can thrive and generate jobs for both young and old. Read less

1. contribute to human health by preventing food-related diseases due to either malnutrition or overconsumption. Action to be taken by each and everyone of us. No one is left out of this action point2. deliver good quality of food in order to meet consumer and cultural aspirations. Action to be taken by Government and agencies in the food sector3. provide decently rewarded employment across the supply chain, with skills and training. Action to be taken by Business owners, and Government

Strengths and vulnerabilities within food systems Many were of the view that the vulnerabilities in food systems is due to bad governance whereas others also stated otherwise it is due to non-existent policies of what actually a food systems isAreas that need further exploration More participants had the notion that Food Systems was all about food. With experts in the dialogue, they were able to grasp few understanding of the general scope of food systems. This means more explorations needs to be done to further educate and highlight the importance of a robust food systems to productivi... Read morety and efficiencyPractices that are needed for food system sustainability Some of the submitted different answers were good governance, youth inclusion, realistic policies, technology and education.Stakeholders whose interests should be prioritized According to some participants, Youth must be the first prioritized whiles others made cases for Farmers as the first to be considered as without farmers, no food production. Read less

To achieve innovative solutions for sustainable food systems that are scalable, we need to bring together the best minds from across sectors. Partnerships are essential for developing creative solutions and moving promising ideas into broader action. This session features ongoing regional partnerships among researchers, farmers, private sector decision makers, and other key stakeholders that reimagine externalities in food systems and work with agricultural innovators to produce real social, environmental, and economic benefits.Participants in this session learned about “payment for eco... Read moresystem services” programs that incentivize farmers to produce valuable ecosystem services as well as food and livelihoods from working landscapes; bold actions for equity in food systems through Milk with Dignity, the only worker driven labor standards program in the US; and research on the social dimensions of food systems that explores how and why farmers adapt to environmental change.Session Goals: • Identify innovative food system solutions that can be replicated and scaled • Explore how collaboration among key academic, private sector, and policy partners can advance solutions and move sustainable food system ideas into broader action • Contribute to inputs for the UN Foods Systems Summit 2021, especially ideas for a shared research-to-practice agenda that supports the goals of the SummitKey Questions: • What are challenges to developing cross-sector partnerships in sustainable food systems, and ways to overcome them? • Are there generalizable lessons from the examples of partnerships in this session that can be applied to cases in other regions? • How are farmers engaged in coproducing solutions? • What key opportunities, outcomes, or dilemmas could be expected when scaling up these solutions? • How can we measure or track the social, environmental, and economic benefits that result from these partnerships?Speakers include: • Moderator: Cheryl Pinto, Global Values Led Sourcing Manager, Ben & Jerry's • Taylor Ricketts, Gund Professor and Director, Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont • Dave Rappaport, Global Social Mission Officer, Ben & Jerry’s • Meredith Niles, Gund Fellow and Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Vermont • Marita Canedo, Migrant Justice • Alissa White, Gund Graduate Fellow, Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont • Tom Bellavance, President, Ag Venture Financial Services, Inc. Read less

Date: Monday, November 23, 1:15-2:45pm ETSession Title: Cross-sector partnerships for developing and scaling food system solutions in the northeast USMain Outtakes of discussion: • This panel represented a constellation of actors that are vital to advancing sustainable food systems solutions. • Collaboration among key academic, private sector, policy, civil society, and on-farm partners is necessary to advance solutions and move sustainable food system ideas into broader action. • The discussion focused on values and value-creation. Panelists described how partnerships genera... Read moreted real and tangible economic, social, and environmental value. • Panelists highlighted the potential for greater value creation and capture because of the synergy that arises from the interplay between different partnerships. • The kinds of partnerships discussed can transform what happens in a food system. Partnerships can catalyze a shift from transactional steps and interactions that surround the activity of growing food on a farm to deeper, more regenerative relationships among businesses, consumers, farmers, farm workers, and the farm ecosystem. This results in amplifying value for the many stakeholders. • The session explored innovative food system solutions that can be replicated and scaled, such as: o Innovative market mechanisms to enable farming practices that regenerate soil health; o A pioneering farmworker-driven labor standards program in the U.S. dairy industry; o Research programs on the social dimensions of food systems that show how and why farmers adapt to environmental change.Bold Actions we will take: 1. Develop and implement frameworks that allow farmers to capture the fuller value of what they produce and the contributions of the farm’s operation 2. Ensure farm workers share in the value that’s created 3. Design market and policy systems to enable farmers to adopt soil health through ecological and regenerative practices on farms 4. Build stronger connections between consumers, farmers, and farms so that the market values appropriately and the distribution of value is equitable through the value chain Note: Many stakeholders have important roles in realizing these bold actions. For example, an effective framework in the first bold action requires farmer and farm staff participation, business recognition and distribution of the value created, policy that supports the creation of new markets and adoption of practices, and research to inform program design and evaluation. Read less

Vulnerabilities within Food Systems in Nigeria: a) The persistence of inefficient traditional farming methodologies due to the unwillingness of rural farming households to adopt modern farming technologies. b) Determination of market prices by middlemen or aggregators and not farmers. c) Cultural practices in farming communities that inhibit progress like prohibiting women from engaging in profitable agri-businesses. d) Farmers’ preference for selling off raw farm produce after harvest rather than engaging in value-addition.Practices Needed for food system sustainability: a) Rolli... Read moreng out a nation-wide scheme on improving protein intake in Nigeria by exploiting innovative mechanisms such as developing both animal and plant protein through partnerships with the private sector, to tackle protein deficiency. b) Aggregate and connect farmers to ameliorate some of the challenges faced such as inadequate storage facilities. c) Collaboration between UN agencies, MDAs, the private sector and other stakeholders to drive improved nutrition and consumption of nutritious foods across Nigeria’s food systems. d) Integration of nutrition and healthy diets components in the Country Nutrition Programming framework. e) Maximization of social impact by encouraging stakeholders in partnerships and collaborations to transform the food systems. f) Maximization of mobile technology to deliver agro-services to farmers in remote locations. g) Acceptance and adoption of genetically modified varieties by rural farming households. Read less

The dialogue sought to reinforce the need for stronger, inclusive, and equitable food systems in Nigeria that can withstand shocks and disruptions, are inclusive of the population, and are equitable for all. Resilient food systems in Nigeria are critical to ensure the continual production and supply of safe, accessible, and affordable food for its population. The dialogue was centered on the following crucial areas: 1) The need for accessible and affordable nutritious food to support the overall reduction of malnutrition and hidden hunger in households. 2) The importance of appropriate techn... Read moreology and credible data in data-driven policymaking. 3) The role of infrastructural facilities in reducing food loss and wastage. 4) The impact of funding facilities in agriculture on overall food production. 5) The importance of minority groups in creating more inclusive sustainable food systems. 6) The impact of emerging technologies on food production Read less

A. Reduction in malnutrition and hidden hunger can be achieved through appropriate nutrition education; mandatory positioning of nutritionists or nutrition practitioners in the primary healthcare systems and other levels of health institutions; improved agricultural extension services; and the intentional re-orientation on socio-cultural issues toward the consumption of rich diversified diets. B. To facilitate data-driven policymaking for the food and agriculture sector, the design, and implementation of a harmonized and inter-connected central data gathering, storage, and sharing platform in... Read more the agricultural sector at a national and/or sub-national level is extremely crucial. C. To address infrastructural deficits in the food and agriculture sector, priorities must include increased investment in alternative sources of power, construction of rural roads, the development of more resilient seed varieties, and the regulation of the standard of agricultural machinery imported into the country, amongst others. D. Increasing the funding facilities available to smallholder farmers will require amongst other things, the commercial aggregation of farmers, access to a well-structured data management system, the development of farmer-centric insurance products to hedge risks, the deployment of both traditional and innovative sources of finance and incentivizing financial institutions to fund the sector. E. Enhancing data collection tools to capture the data of vulnerable groups, the inclusion of these vulnerable groups in policy planning and implementation processes, incentivizing groups by providing tailored education and support for them, are some of the strategies to build a more inclusive food system in the country. F. The implementation of mitigative measures to reduce the adverse effects of climate change on agricultural and food production is critical Read less