Explore Official Dialogue Feedback

The Dialogue was a webinar with high level speakers and two panels, Q&A sessions, chat and questionnaire. Hence it was not designed with strict discussion topics. However, the Dialogue outcome can be grouped under topics related to 4 questions: Discussion Topic 1: What are the key actions to ensure that an aquatic food system approach provide both sustainable equitable livelihoods as well as food security and nutrition? Address the existing inequalities in aquatic food systems (e.g. unfair distribution of commercial fish catches and limited political power of small-scale fishers, particula... Read morerly women and minority groups). - Enable equitable access to resources. - Develop inclusive, transparent and comprehensive sustainable ocean plans (e.g. Sustainable ocean management promoted by the Ocean Panel). - Increase financial investment in sustainable and inclusive aquatic value chains. - Promote policy dialogue to facilitate government decisions and policies that trigger public-private-producers’ partnerships. - Strengthen fishers’ organisations and access to productive resources, markets, technology and innovation. - Translate research into actual investments. - Shift the narrative from ‘feeding’ a growing population to ‘nourishing’ all people with diverse, culturally acceptable foods. - Implement effective cooperation between government and institutions to address food, nutrition, and livelihood security at the national and global levels. - Support nutrition-sensitive approaches to aquatic food systems (e.g. small fish food). - Harness the nutritional benefits of aquatic foods through the development and innovation of diverse aquatic food products, low-trophic aquatic species, novel and alternative aquatic foods (e.g. seaweed, lab-based aquatic food). - Establish women processing groups and improve processing technologies. - Produce dried fish which is accessible and affordable to poor and rural households. - Integrate powdered small fish in supplementary nutrition programmes. - Include the voices and knowledge of indigenous people to form sustainable solutions for aquatic resource management. Read less

The Dialogue was a webinar with high level speakers and two panels, Q&A sessions, chat and questionnaire. Hence it was not designed with strict discussion topics. However, the Dialogue outcome can be grouped under topics related to 4 questions: Discussion Topic 2: What governance structures and investments are required in order to facilitate entrepreneurship and equal access to resources? - A food system approach does not just happen. For scalability to happen analysis is needed in order to match solutions with the most urgent needs. Change makers need to be identified, supported and conne... Read morected - Strengthen policies and strategies and build capacities of resource management institutions. - Ensure that finance programmes include women, youth and small-scale producers. - Ensure that finance programmes focus on resilience and climate adaptation and mitigations. - Adopt pro-poor financial innovations for small producer in the aquatic sector. - Strengthen market linkages, producer organisations, information systems, market-supportive infrastructure. Read less

The Dialogue was a webinar with high level speakers and two panels, Q&A sessions, chat and questionnaire. Hence it was not designed with strict discussion topics. However, the Dialogue outcome can be grouped under topics related to 4 questions: Discussion Topic 3: What governance structures and investments are required in order to engage and support young people and women to create a living in sustainable aquatic food systems? - Address socio-cultural issues which impede opportunities for women. - Target women-based value chains or segments of the value chains. - Ensure that women and othe... Read morer vulnerable groups are included in aquatic food decision making and policy. - Expand investment and support sustainable development and diversification of small-scale producers. - Protect, support and develop the role of small-scale fisheries and producers to optimise the potential of aquatic foods to help end malnutrition. - More data on the role of women in aquatic food systems (e.g. from the Illuminating Hidden Harvest study) to make it more visible. - Provide capacity-strengthening support to organisations, social movements, networks, and for women’s collective action, including legal and negotiation training skills. - Raise awareness and reduce gender-based violence in aquatic food systems. Read less

The Dialogue was a webinar with high level speakers and two panels, Q&A sessions, chat and questionnaire. Hence it was not designed with strict discussion topics. However, the Dialogue outcome can be grouped under topics related to 4 questions: Discussion Topic 4: What governance structures and investments are required in order to improve working conditions in the aquatic foods system (labour rights, eliminating forced and child labour and developing social protection systems)? - Introduce social protection interventions to improve labour rights and eliminate child labour. - Introduce labo... Read moreur-saving technologies. - Include aquatic food producers in decision-making to address working condition issues. Read less

There was no area of divergence during the discussions in the Dialogue. There were occasions of misunderstanding or lack of information, which were clarified in the live chat.

The major focus of our independent dialogue was to examine the cocoa production of Ghana in an ever-changing world. The discussions were largely to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the current cocoa production value chain, given new world trade participants, new use of land (galamsey) and emerging call for healthier food. Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao) is a plant from which we obtain raw beans which is use for chocolates, other confectionary and cosmetics. In Ghana it is produced in the forest zones by smallholder households. Its production is rain dependent and it is harvested twice a year (... Read moreSeptember to November and May to July). It is a major export crop, which trade is controlled by the Ghana Cocoa Board. The concern that triggered the dialogue was the announcement of China's entry into the cocoa world market and the internal issues bothering on shifting of cocoa land for gold mining, unfavorable policy around input distribution and output market price, limited innovation as well as limited adoption of research results by farmers. Read less

The Ghana Cocoa Board admitted that China's entry into the cocoa supply chain has aroused some concerns among Ghanaians although it is insignificant. The Board further admitted that industry mangers response strategies to quell threats were necessary. The Board stated categorically that several economic, social and environmental measures were underway to maintain Ghana's competitive advantage in the world cocoa trade. Ghana Cocoa Board and its subsidiaries are focused on mitigating climate change and other environmental sustainability threats through cocoa agroforestry practices, climate smart... Read more cocoa production and irrigation. To boost productivity and enhance economic advantage and sustainability , hybrid seedlings, efficacious pesticides, fertilizers, good agricultural practices (GAPs), domestic consumption as well as domestic processing of cocoa is being promoted. For social sustainability, cocoa farmer pension scheme and other livelihood improvement schemes for cocoa farmers are being implemented along the cocoa value chain in Ghana; child labor issues are also being addressed by the use of CMS-a very robust system for tracking the progress of children so as to expose early child labour signals, prevailing child labour, child-trafficking and child slavery. Persons/ farmers found culpable to the offence of child labour in cocoa production are referred to the Ministry of Employment and Labour relations and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social protection for remediation. With respect to technological advancement in addressing key cocoa production bottlenecks, the Ghana Cocoa Board is using digital technologies and innovations such as GPS to collect and manage farmers bio data. However, the Ghana Cocoa Board express the need for bridging the gap between the cocoa industry and academia so as to increase the opportunities for research, innovation and development that are key to improving and strengthening Ghana's cocoa sector. For policy- there is the need to go beyond production to focus on value addition or commercialization For input marketing, improvement in the supply of new varieties of cocoa seed, mechanized equipment, security of cocoa land and availability of trained extension officers and availability of credit facilities were called for. For research and innovation-the cocoa research institute of Ghana and other universities and crop based research institutes were called upon to up their game in developing new seed varieties, protectants and cocoa products. For farmers- There is need for government and private sector to support the local economy within which the farmer carries out production and marketing activities. Why fear China? China is doing something different to obtain premium price, which is more than double what Ghana has ever attained. So Ghana should change its strategy as well. Read less

Policy- Urgent actions required: Go beyond productivity and look at value addition or commercialization Marketing strategies Increase marketing and awareness creation by COCOBOD Develop more markets beyond the local and traditional markets Go beyond bulk cocoa production to specialty cocoa production Accompanying policy implementation framework to ensure efficiency of the policy Ways to assess progress: Monitoring and evaluation Achieving the objectives of the policies (Cocoa sector development strategy 1(2000/01 to 2009/10); Post CSDS 1 Development (2010/11 to 2016/17) and CSDS 2 (2017/18-202... Read more6/27) What our organization will do: Advocacy Organizing conferences Dialogues etc. Read less

Research- Participants were of the view that Ghana COCOBOD needs to assemble and engage top-notch researchers and experts to tell them the impacts of policy based on scientific research findings. In that way, Ghana COCOBOD will be aware of the ground situation and work with business intelligence. Further and urgent actions required are concerned with re-bagging, digitalization and newer methods of irrigation , which is critical in improving Cocoa production due to recent climate change challenge. It is also important to include product differentiation as a way of remaining competitive instead ... Read moreof worrying about China's entry. Ways to assess progress: Research critically and try to find new ways of doing things. We should monitor and evaluate all policies established. We should think through thoroughly to know the problem and what possible solutions that will work. What our organization will do: We will continue to engage in programmes and dialogues so as to educate the public on these important food system (Cocoa) issues. Read less

Markets- Urgent actions required: Developing local markets while strengthening international markets Strengthening of internal market systems and linkages; farm and marketing inputs ( e.g jute sacks) should be made readily available. Trade in inputs should be lucrative to encourage investors into that market It is important to study China’s trade strategies and learn from them. How to assess progress: We should measure premiums on quality products (Cocoa). We should determine extent of value additions annually Change in the attitude of farmers towards operating cocoa farms as business and ex... Read morepanding investments What our organization will do: GAAE and University of Ghana will collaborate with COCOBOD to undertake more research in cocoa international trade. GAAE will map the LBCs and partner their association for occasional policy dialogues. GAAE will adopt more demand driven research approaches and work with farmers to share and exchange knowledge and advocate for farmer livelihood improvement. Read less

Farmer response- Urgent actions required: Farmers involvement in cocoa policy making should be more visible through effective engagement. Innovative value addition to cocoa beans or its waste products by farmers will create new streams of income generation so as to maximize their cocoa market diversification strategies. Cocoa farming should be made attractive to the youth to prevent them from from migrating into cities. Increase the use of mechanized farming and innovations to promote agricultural mechanization in cocoa farming especially equipment for breaking cocoa pods. Also, providing pers... Read moreonal protective equipment in case of any occupational hazard such as snake bites. How to assess progress: More youth involvement in cocoa farming. Significant improvement in the welfare of cocoa farming household. High efficiency from cost management by farmers. Increase in the price of produce by farmers. Bringing new products from cocoa. Cocoa farming becoming a sustainable business. What our organization will do: Our organization would be a major link between farmers and policy makers. Building confidence and encouraging high involvement of farmers in improving cocoa production in Ghana. Read less

The major area of divergence remained whether China's entry into the world cocoa market was a threat. While the lead industry player, the Ghana Cocoa Board held the view that China's entry into the cocoa supply chain was insignificant, so not a global threat, majority of the participants maintained the view that COCOBOD should take China serious.

In the Dialogue and the post-webinar surveys, there were a few areas of mild divergence. These include the prioritisation of issues and the applicability of mentioned solutions. In the Dialogue, the panellists highlighted challenges and solutions for sustainable aquatic food production, including overfishing, post-harvest loss and marginalisation of small-scale farmers. Participants suggested other issues to be addressed (e.g. social inequality, lack of funding, and high cost for sustainable production). The panellists and the participants had a thorough discussion on the solutions suggested i... Read moren the Dialogue. And a few participants expressed their concerns about the applications of these:  Regarding the solution to convert food waste to fish feeds via black soldier flies, a few participants showed their concerns about the financial feasibility of this approach. In addition, the essential fatty acid levels in black soldier flies were insufficient to meet the nutritional needs of the consumers. Thus, the substrates should be improved for the black soldier fly larvae.  Seaweed farming has been applied in multiple regions/countries to enhance different aspects of the society. A few participants shared their concerns about heavy metals and other contaminants potentially found in marine algae. Further research is required prior to scale-up seaweed faming.  The Voluntary Sustainability Standards labelling has improved the sustainable production. However, obtaining certifications might be time-consuming and costly. Read less

Aquatic foods provide solutions to hunger, malnutrition and poverty. Sustainable production of aquatic foods ensures the productivity of aquatic foods while minimising the environmental footprints. We identified key science- and evidence-based solutions that were applicable and scalable. More importantly, we recognized that the food systems are complex, thus, to tackle existing issues requires holistic approaches, cross-sectorial efforts, both when it comes to policy making and actions. In the Dialogue, international food system experts working in policy, research and innovation career fields ... Read moreprovided key solutions to scale-up sustainable aquatic food production for multiple stakeholders and sectors in low- to middle-income countries:  The current Voluntary Sustainability Standards provide a market-based tool for scaling-up sustainable production in aquatic foods, however such standards need to be tailored for small-scale producers to improve their access to trade and market, and this requires better governance.  Adopting circular economy approaches in aquaculture which recycle by-products from other industries/systems, including terrestrial, ones ensures that aquaculture can be scaled without putting pressure on the limited resources of the planet. It also lowers the production costs thus increasing the earning potential of poor farmers and decreasing the social volatility of a region in addition to providing nutritious foods to rural families.  Ecosystem-based approaches should be applied to reduce environmental impacts and protect adjacent natural habitats.  Social components are important for sustainable development of aquaculture, such as inclusion of female and the youth, providing small-scale female farmers and business leaders with access to finance (e.g. through hatching programs).  Scaling-up solutions requires cross-sectorial engagement, such as reaching out to terrestrial-focused colleagues, and bridging private, public and research institutes. The stakeholders in the dialogue called for technological innovations to scale-up solutions for sustainable aquatic food production, areas including:  Environmental-friendly feeds of good quality by utilising by-products of other systems (e.g. food waste, agriculture by-product) and/or locally produced low trophic ingredients (e.g., seaweeds);  Post-harvest loss reduction.  Circular economy approaches to improve both aquatic food production and other components (e.g., health, social inclusiveness, peace and justice).  Low trophic aquatic food production for feeds, human consumptions and other related industries.  Approaches to scale-up from small-scale production to large-scale production (e.g. black soldier flies for aquafeeds).  Traceability of aquatic foods to ensure food safety (e.g. block chain technology). The stakeholders also emphasised the need to establish better connections:  Among multiple sectors (government, farmers, consumers, and private sectors) to create scalable sustainable solutions across aquatic food systems.  Between researchers and the government to better inform environment-based policy making.  among different social components to improve inclusiveness and awareness, and improve the capacity of aquatic food production.  between the aquatic food producers and the government to improve efficiency of communication, enforcing of policies, and certification processing.  within local communities to scale-up community-based approaches in sustainable aquaculture (e.g. Fish Breeding Site project supported by TNC).  among countries to better share knowledge and technology that can be further tailored for national and/or regional needs. Read less

The Dialogue was a webinar with high level speakers and two panels, Q&A sessions, chat and a post-event questionnaire. Hence it was not designed with strict discussion topics. However, the Dialogue outcomes can be grouped under topics related to 3 questions: Discussion Topic 1: How to scale-up production of sustainable aquatic foods as a provider of the nutrients we need at lower environmental cost, and as a provider of livelihoods?  Increase low trophic aquatic food production.  Develop and apply of circular food systems.  Integrate blue and green coproducts as feed ingredients. ... Read more Promote pond polyculture to reduce the need for feed ingredients from the global fish catch.  Enforce environmental standards and regulations.  Remove challenging regulatory barriers.  Increase expertise and capacity to maintain successful aquaculture operations.  Conduct Marine Spatial Planning.  Selective breeding of aquaculture species. Read less

The Dialogue was a webinar with high level speakers and two panels, Q&A sessions, chat and a post-event questionnaire. Hence it was not designed with strict discussion topics. However, the Dialogue outcomes can be grouped under topics related to 3 questions: Discussion Topic 2: How can global aquaculture be upscaled; ensuring sustainable feed without challenging food security for others?  Generate knowledge and tools for sustainable feeds and feed systems.  Ensure that production of aquatic foods does not compete for arable land.  Further explore consumption of low trophic aquatic... Read more foods.  Adopt recirculating aquaculture systems in areas with scarce water resources.  Increase focus on the link between sustainable feed ingredients and the nutritional value of fish for consumers.  Utilise locally available feed ingredients.  Adopt circular approaches with better integration of agriculture and aquaculture.  Manage forage fisheries.  Utilise fisheries and aquaculture processing waste.  Replace fish feed ingredients with alternative sources (e.g. plant-based and other low trophic ingredients, terrestrial animal by-products, microbial ingredients, algae).  Increase non-fed aquaculture (e.g. seaweed and molluscs).  Optimise feeding management to reduce feed loss. Read less

The Dialogue was a webinar with high level speakers and two panels, Q&A sessions, chat and a post-event questionnaire. Hence it was not designed with strict discussion topics. However, the Dialogue outcomes can be grouped under topics related to 3 questions: Discussion Topic 3: What can smallholders teach us about sustainability and the importance of accelerating and scaling-up the good solutions?  Sustainable solutions need to be context-specific (e.g. complement local solutions with new knowledge and innovations).  Advance our understanding of the value of small-scale fisheries (e.... Read moreg. Illuminating Hidden Harvests) and increase efforts to capture their contributions in national accounts.  Adopt seasonal farming to provide livelihoods and sustainable solutions (e.g. alternating between hilsa fishing and seaweed farming).  Apply multiple farming systems to increase resilience to changes in feeds, feeding practices, and environmental conditions.  Include multi-sectorial efforts (e.g. social, economic and environmental) to promote inclusiveness (e.g. the poor and marginalised, women and youth) and strengthen the circularity of agri-food systems. Read less

Sustainable, resilient food systems for healthy diets is one of the six cross-cutting, integrative action areas of the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016-2025). The Global Action Network: Sustainable Food from the Oceans and Inland Waters for Food Security and Nutrition, is established under the umbrella of the Nutrition Decade. The Network aims to mobilise actions to include aquatic foods as a key food source for achieving food security and improved nutrition in the Decade of Action on Nutrition and in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. The Network takes a holistic food chain ap... Read moreproach “from healthy waters to healthy people”, highlighting solutions for sustainable aquatic and food security (sufficient, safe and nutritious aquatic foods which meets dietary needs and food preferences, leaving no one behind). Aquatic foods will be important in transforming our global food systems. In the lead up to the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit, the Network arranged a series of three Independent Dialogues. This Dialogue (together with the two others arranged by the Global Action Network Sustainable Food from the Ocean and Inland Waters) aimed to make aquatic foods better integrated in the current food systems debates and seen as contributing as a key food source for achieving global food security and improved nutrition. A dietary shift towards more aquatic foods will contribute to food security within the planetary boundaries. The Dialogue “Transforming food systems with aquatic foods: scaling-up sustainable production solutions” was an exploration of Action Track 3 (boost nature-positive production) but also interlinked to the other Action Tracks. The Dialogue brought together representatives from government, science and research, private sectors and NGOs that covered areas related to healthy oceans, sustainable fisheries and seafood production, food security and nutrition. Stakeholders working with science, policy and in action work were brought together as well as the UN Food Systems Summit Action Track leaders. During the event, we encouraged questions and discussion among and between panellists and participants, and ensured their voices were heard. All stakeholder groups engaged in the Dialogue. The panellists highlighted current issues and showcased successful solutions within aquatic food systems. The participants agreed with the urgent issues mentioned by the panellists and identified several other issues to be addressed in the future. The Dialogue acknowledged the need to increase the awareness of the contribution of aquatic foods in current food systems as well as addressing the interlinkages with terrestrial food production. There is a need to scale-up production of sustainable aquatic foods as a provider of nutrients (not just calories), at lower environmental cost and as a provider of equitable livelihoods. To achieve this, the Dialogue emphasised important aspects and identified actions for an increased sustainable aquatic food production in order to transform future food systems. This was delivered by multiple stakeholders from ministerial level, governments, private sector, NGOs, academia, UN-initiatives, and the Action Track 3 leadership. The Dialogue exemplified solutions and how to scale-up sustainable production of aquatic foods. It provided multiple stakeholders with options and innovative thinking on how to link aquatic food production with other aspects. The panellists disseminated approaches to bridge science, policy and actions and encouraged holistic approaches and cross-sectorial engagement to make aquatic foods more visible in current food systems. Read less

The overarching theme of this Independent Dialogue focused on creating healthier food environments by way of a package of effective and evidenced based policies (including front-of-package labelling, marketing restrictions and taxation of unhealthy foods) to help to address diet-related NCDs, leveraging the opportunity presented by the UN Food Systems Summit and beyond. Some of the key issues raised or emerging from this discussion were the need to identify common ground to improve diets, the importance of identifying the barriers and challenges that need to be addressed in order to pursue a f... Read moreood system transformation, also how policy packages can respond to specific local contexts. Further, the Dialogue emphasised the importance of strengthening appreciation that healthy or unhealthy diets are not a personal choice but rather a consequence of the food environment that needs to be shaped and nurtured with collective and coherent decisions around these policy areas, and how the pandemic has also shown the need to invest more in sustainable food systems and environments. The environment must enable and facilitate healthy choices and it must be coherent also in the sense that marketing restrictions, clear information on packaging and taxes of unhealthy products should be jointly promoted, while policies in areas such as trade, urban design and development and education should be complementary and coherent and not undermine the development of sound public health policy. It is important to level the playing field of competition, and incentives the availing of better options, so that unhealthy food steps back and healthy food comes forward. While the agenda influences consumers, producers and retailers, and supporting the environment, but also about changing the economic dynamics and levelling the playing field. It is difficult to prove large impact if the environment is not coherent. The idea behind a coherent policy package is that by implementation of it we are creating a health promoting food environment, and supporting all people’s right to health and food including children and those most vulnerable. Read less

The following key messages and themes emerged from the interactive dialogue and plenary with guided discussions among representatives from governments, civil society: - Consensus on the need for complementary package of policies to address diet related NCDs (restrictions to marketing and taxation of unhealthy foods, and front-of-package labeling systems on food products). Given the regulatory nature of these measures, and the evidence of industry interference in these types of nutrition policy-making processes, participants noted a need for tools, transparency and protective mechanisms to mini... Read moremize risk of industry interference in public health policy and avoidance of conflicts of interest. It is not possible to have a one policy approach. A policy package approach is essential towards a vision of an environment that is coherent and all the messages that are coming from that environment come from a healthy direction. It is about saying to large food corporations what is acceptable and what is not and having a leverage playing field for healthier choices. - Participants recommended a common global definition of what is healthy or unhealthy food/diets, clarifying and including terms like ultra-processed food products. - Insights were gained on how India is responding to the double burden of malnutrition and building healthy food systems by recognizing that undernutrition and inappropriate nutrition (which contributes to diet related NCDs) are all interlinked. It was important also to recognize the need for good balanced nutrition policy during all the life course. India has an approach of eating healthy, eating safe and eating sustainably (including a health, environmental, sanitation, etc. connectivity). It was also highlighted the importance of bringing this connection to the SDG agenda and engage with multiple stakeholders across the country in a practical way at the district level (e.g. school meals). - The experience shared by Finland on notable wins and success factors in the country included the reduction of premature mortality through changes in the diet (e.g. reduction of salt and saturated fats); the adoption of a universal approach which targets the whole population and age groups: food belongs to everybody and every person need a good diet; the health-in-all-policies approach which is supported by legislation and intersectoral mechanisms; the economy of wellbeing approach emphasizing the interlinkages between social, economic and environmental sustainability; the political leadership for SDG’s in the Prime Minister Office nurtures coherent sectoral policies, supports government programmes, promotes healthy diets, coherent policies, and political leadership. As challenges, it was pointed out that the past 10 years it has become increasingly difficult to maintain success. School meals investment pays back (e.g. 1 dollar of investment pays 9 dollars back) but other approaches are needed (e.g., agricultural policies, fiscal measures, public procurement, warning labels, among others), Transforming food systems is a challenge but comes with opportunities and success stories. It is important that there is a joint effort towards better cooperation and coordination at the global level. - The majority of participants also showed interest in being part of a coalition in support of a policy package for healthy diets within the Summit context and beyond. Discussants also noted as main challenges to implementation of a package of policies: - Multiple stakeholders having a place at the table at the policy making level, including those with conflicts of interest. - The dominant prosperity/capita/development narrative being consistently focused on what will damage economies instead of also considering investment in health, environment and well-being aspects as keys to development and prosperity. - Silo policy making within governments and trade offs between government departments which are not fully transparent, understood and foster incoherence - The negative impact the food industry lobby has on political processes, funding and biasing research and driving the narrative and definition of what foods are unhealthy, coopting tenuous health and sustainability attributes as a marketing tool even when a product’s nutritional value is negligible or harmful. On immediate steps and shifts necessary to address the challenges participants agreed on the need to: - Engage and align with new allies from other sectors rather than only the health sectors. - Influence the influencers (the cooks, the bloggers, etc) to also influence policy making Build the bridge between academics and the policy makers to enable policy makers to be better informed. - Share tips and lessons learned between countries (peer to peer) and a global governance to encourage multiple country support - Increase transparency in policy discussions - highlight the iimportance of NCDs and dietary options, and making sure these are incorporated within the pandemic response. - Tackle and expose lobby power of food industry, build the evidence and take action - Build and grow civil society competency and national protection for underage consumers - Have more courageous Member States engaged in this agenda. Read less