Explore Official Dialogue Feedback

Member State Dialogues: 490 Intergovernmental Dialogues: 6 Independent Dialogues: 681 Global Summit Dialogues: 10

This page allows anyone to explore responses from Dialogue Convenors to section 4 of the Food Systems Summit Dialogues Official Feedback Form. Section 4 is organised into 4 sub-sections that allow Convenors to detail the “Major Focus” of their Dialogue as well as the outcomes including the “Main findings”, “Outcomes for each Discussion Topic” and “Areas of Divergence”. Anyone can use this information to develop their own synthesis of Dialogue Feedback. For this reason, results can also be filtered by Action Track or keyword. Syntheses of Official Feedback must respect the Food Systems Summit Principles of Engagement and used in the context of the Dialogue that took place.

For researchers and advanced synthesis, an XML export is available here (last updated ).

Independent Dialogue

University – Policy Dialogue for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems in Africa-[Ministerial Meeting]

Geographical focus: No borders

Main findings

• Key messages from the Technical experts, policy makers and in line with the Vice Chancellor’s Statement calling for a dialogue with policy makers to explore engagement opportunities and chart a common pathway for strengthening Africa’s Food Systems, taking into account the diversity of food systems on the continent. • Vibrant Agri-food-systems and institutions engaged in production to consumption of food, are key to delivery of the continent’s development agenda, Africa We Want, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). • COVID 19 was a wake-up call to the glaring fragilit... Read morey and inequality of the global, regional and national agri-food systems. This calls for considering sustainability, inclusivity and resilience of food systems an urgent matter which requires building existing systems and policies. All stakeholders in the agri-food system including smallholders have a role to play in shaping the pathways for resilience and sustainability • The future transformation of food systems in Africa requires innovativeness in research and education approaches that are rooted in local contexts • Universities in Africa need to adopt and create knowledge to strengthen and transform the food systems through strengthening links and improving productivity, processing, storage, transport, food quality and business that link them with consumers • Universities need to anticipate the skills set and knowledge demanded by the rapidly changing food systems and provide this information and skills in ways that trickle through the entire economy. Universities then need to translate the knowledge created into innovations that then transform and develop potentials that drive their own and Africa’s food system • There is need to reassess and redesign the African Universities and assist them to build their capacity to develop and deliver Africa’s food system transformation • Linkages amongst smallholder farmers need to be strengthened • Human capital development for sub-Saharan Africa is important in enabling Africa realize its full agricultural potential to boost its food system. There is also need for targeted investment in key productivity enhancing innovations to harness scientific solutions for the targeted growth. • Smallholder farmers have limited entrepreneurial ability, productive assets and skills potential for value addition. This warrants skilling such populations and improving the labor productivity. This will enable African Agriculture meet local and global food demand. • Member States have to strengthen production fundamentals including research and innovation that direct how we leverage production resources to generate relevant technologies; guide threat surveillances and inform policy design and accountability • Member States need to institute industrial policies that promote private investment and job growth in local non-farm sectors essential to attract investment in agri-food systems • Member States need to scale-up technologies developed by Universities to make them more available for the Youth and use within the different countries • Need to strengthen investments in the entire educational value chain to increase the numbers of Young people entering into the labor force • Member States need to work with their universities and other actors within and outside Africa to Marshall the needed response to strengthen Africa’s food system and scale out best practices • Member States need to foster global partnerships for sustainability and inclusivity, resilience and sustainability of the food system • Member States need to strengthen their commitment towards regional, continental and global frameworks by increasing investments, financing and implementation, including CAADP, STISA 2024, AGENDA 2063. Read less

Action Track(s): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Keywords: Data & Evidence, Environment and Climate, Finance, Innovation, Policy, Trade-offs, Women & Youth Empowerment

Independent Dialogue

University – Policy Dialogue for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems in Africa-[Ministerial Meeting]

Geographical focus: No borders

Major focus

Provide a platform for agri-food sector stakeholders for dialogue to generate solutions and actions to inform the deliberations during the UN Food Systems Summit 2021 To explore engagement opportunities and chart a common pathway for strengthening Africa’s Food Systems, considering the diversity of food systems on the continent The dialogue was exploring how national governments and regional bodies could contribute to sustainable food systems through investment in local institutions including universities and research institutions. This is one mechanism to ensure safe and nutritious food for... Read more all as well as building resilience to shocks, vulnerabilities and stress. Further noting that to build sustainable, inclusive, and resilient food systems, there is need to examine existing systems and policies. Government leaders and policy makers, the private sector, civil society, universities, research institutions, and smallholder farmers and other value chain actors have a stake in shaping pathways for resilient and sustainable national food systems aligned with SDGs and Africa’s Agenda 2063. . The dialogue looked at • Renewed commitment for US-Africa partnership on agricultural advancement in Africa • Perspective from European Union Commission • World Bank efforts to rebuild and strengthen agricultural development and food systems in Africa and globally • Current status of food systems in Africa and implication for poverty, food and nutritional security in the continent Focus was on providing feedback on what emerged from the dialogues and country assessments, opportunities foreseen from the different member states for strengthening the food systems; recommendations on the key actions towards the five action tracks; and, developing key messages for consideration by the Presidents Summit on 1st July 2021 Read less

Action Track(s): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Keywords: Data & Evidence, Environment and Climate, Finance, Innovation, Policy, Women & Youth Empowerment

Bangladesh - Stage 2

Second Sub-National Dialogue in Barguna

Area of divergence

There was no major area of divergence among the participants. All the participants have emphasized on infrastructural development to control floods, cyclone and river erosion, and improvement of flood and cyclone resistant transportation and communication facilities which they think can improve the food production and transportation situation of the area.

Action Track(s): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Keywords: Data & Evidence, Environment and Climate, Governance, Innovation, Policy

Bangladesh - Stage 2

Second Sub-National Dialogue in Barguna

Discussion topic outcome

1.Availability of diversified, safe, and nutritious food: Challenges: Lack of improved technology and management in rearing buffalo; Outbreak of several diseases in poultry that interrupts poultry rearing; Critical use of nets considering Fisheries; lack of local fish species; Inadequate irrigation systems and salinity in agriculture Way Forward: Appoint skilled workers at union level for reproduction of livestock and poultry; - Strict implication of Law enforcement Restrict and stop production of nets that are already banned; - Ensure irrigation through the installment of buried pipe; - Culti... Read morevate fruits and vegetable using trench system. 2. Transformation, delivery, access, and role of private sector: -Challenges: Imported fruits dominates the local markets; Price of crops is a challenge as no specific range is fixed, as a result, farmers do not get proper and right price; Inadequate employment; Local market environment. Way Forward: Establishment of storage and improvement of communication system; Fix specific place for farmers in local markets; Cooperative selling system; Build more dams, canal excavation, and drainage management; Improvement of product selling system considering the public health issues; Regional industry establishment (milk, auto rice mill, fisheries etc.); arrangement of livestock’s health check- up. 3. Consumer behaviors, nutrition, and food safety: Challenges: Lack of awareness on nutrition consumption; Excessive application of pesticides on vegetables; Lack of financial solvency; Lack opportunities of diversified income generating opportunities; Inadequate food processing and preservation system; Lack of safe drinking water in disaster-prone areas; Acute malnutrition among children; Increasing trend of non-communicable diseases ; Outbreak of water-borne diseases such as diarrhea; Way Forward: Awareness raising; Market monitoring; Expand of agro-based industries; Regular monitoring of food production and food producing infrastructures; Need more infrastructure facilities to ensure the supply of fresh drinking water; Improvement of economic scenario through multi-sectoral and sustainable professions; Invention of salinity-resilient crops and multi-level use of lands; Integrated agriculture management; Storage system and industry establishment under govt. and non-govt. structures; Increase initiative related to health education. 4. Climate vulnerability, inclusion, and governance: Challenges: Long term damage of cultivating lands due to saline intrusion during natural disasters; Crop production hampers due to saline intrusion as the dams are not strong enough to prevent this intrusion and lack of water drainage system; Beneficiary under different social safety-net programs is not organized and irregular as well not maintained; Fishermen face food insecurity due to lack of alternative income generation activities during the time when fishing id declared to be restricted; Losing of assets, households and migration due to climate change and natural disasters; Huge damage causes in fisheries by collecting minnows; Lack of shelter for cattle causes alarming number of death of livestock during disasters; Damage of fisheries due to lack after production fisheries processing; Food supply chain gets damaged during disasters; Ultra- poor and poor people during disaster suffers from food insecurity due to lack of alternative income generating activities. Way Forward: Reduce the damage of crops and fisheries through proper water management during disasters; Repair, renovation and construction of dams and sluis gates and strengthen the water dredging system; Install rain water harvesting system for post-disaster safe drinking water supply; Establishment of shelter for cattle Create option of alternative income generating activities for fishermen during fish-catching banning period; Activate ‘Emergency Food Bank’ for urgent food support during post disaster time; activate early-warning system to minimize post disaster damages; - include social safety-net for income generating for third-gender people and align and merge this plan in central social safety-net programs Read less

Action Track(s): 1, 2, 3, 5

Keywords: Data & Evidence, Environment and Climate, Finance, Governance, Innovation, Policy, Women & Youth Empowerment

Bangladesh - Stage 2

Second Sub-National Dialogue in Barguna

Main findings

Covid-19 Pandemic has situation the existing challenges in food supply chain area even worse and more challenging. Food safety as we know is a part of food security; another step of it is- supply chain- from production to consumption. The dialogue tried to find out the existing challenges and effective way forward from country’s one of the diversified districts. And key areas indicated that the district still faces difficulties in roads and in modes of communication. It still remains as a big challenge in most of the areas. Due to flood and natural disasters these road have become more unsus... Read moretainable. Reaching to the communities living in remote places becomes very much difficult. As a result, during disaster or in time of emergency, nutritious food cannot be ensured for people living in these areas. Transportation of food products becomes difficult and uncertain. Situation has become more challenging due to lack of cold storage facility and it is affecting the income of the farmers as well as a good number of crops/ fruits/ vegetables are being wasted in a regular basis. Farmers, due to their geographical locations and lack of network, still depends on the middleman for marketing of the crops they cultivate and produce. These middlemen do not give the farmers the proper price of the crops. In many cases, as we have found from the group discussion during the dialogues that middlemen keep the farmers waiting for selling the products and continue bargaining to buy the products in low price; and at the end of the day farmers are left with no other options but to sell their products in low price as there is not option for preserving or storing the products. Natural disaster in Barguna, undoubtedly is another key challenge people face regularly. Cyclone, flood, river erosion etc. are the most common phenomena that people of Barguna face around the year. River erosion is causing gradually decreasing cultivating lands and there are more. Along with these, lack of awareness among mass number of people is making situation more difficult to overcome. Despite having act and law as well as law enforcement team, percentage of people’s practice of consuming safe food is not satisfactory. Lack of knowledge, clear concept about safe food and ignorance are the reason behind this. At the same time, mass people are not accountable and responsible to ensure safe food intake. Read less

Action Track(s): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Keywords: Data & Evidence, Environment and Climate, Finance, Governance, Policy

Bangladesh - Stage 2

Second Sub-National Dialogue in Barguna

Major focus

dialogue, Action Track-1 i.e. ‘Ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all’ was considered with a prime importance. However, connections with the other Action Tracks were also considered for the improvement of food and nutrition security situation in Bangladesh. In the group discussion session of the dialogue, the following four thematic areas (discussion topics) were considered: i) Availability of diversified, safe and nutritious Food; ii) Transformation, delivery, access and role of private sector; iii) Consumer behaviors, nutrition and food safety; iv) Climate vulnerability, inclu... Read moresion and governance. Barguna is a district in the division of Barisal, Bangladesh. It is situated in the southern part of Bangladesh. Barguna's economy is primarily dependent on agriculture. Principal crops include rice and pulses. Jute cultivation was once important, but it gradually lost popularity as a cash crop. Being a coastal district, Barguna has a thriving fishing industry. Produce of the district includes betel leaf, pulses, bananas, betel nut, molasses, marine fish, and shrimp. Total area of agricultural land is 104231 hectares. There is no major industry in this district. A number of small manufacturing industries comprise mostly rice mills, saw mill, soap factory, flour mill, ice factory and pen factory. Majority of the industries are in the sadar area (adjacent areas of district head quarter) and the remaining are in different upazilas (sub-district). Traditional cottage industries such as weaving, bamboo and cane art work, goldsmithing, blacksmithing, pottery, wood work, and tailoring also thrive in rural areas. Barguna has been located as one of the coastal areas of Bangladesh that is being hit by cyclones almost every year. Cyclone season in the Bay of Bengal, mainly occurs pre and post monsoon season, between April- May and October-November and that causes death during a cyclone disaster, due to drowning. Further damage is caused by inundation of low-lying coastal areas, erosion, and damage to soil fertility, crops, fisheries, vegetable etc. as well as loss of buildings and transport networks. Cyclones that make landfall at high tide create higher storm surges and are therefore more destructive. Considering this geographical reality, to ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all, it is important to include all vulnerable population in the social protection program. Government of Bangladesh has given emphasis to support people affected by the flood, drought, natural disaster, and other adverse climatic events. In addition, it is also important to support people residing in the marginalized and geographically hard-to-reach areas, and families which are economically and socially vulnerable to food and nutrition security. Besides, special training programs for private sector, mass awareness and knowledge building on safe food and food supply chain and agricultural sector rehabilitation and mitigation measures could benefit these vulnerable and excluded people. Read less

Action Track(s): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Keywords: Data & Evidence, Environment and Climate, Finance, Governance, Human rights, Policy, Women & Youth Empowerment

Independent Dialogue

Food: Knowing what’s safe

Geographical focus: No borders

Area of divergence

The key areas of divergence and debate were as follows: 1. Where responsibility for food safety sits between consumers, public health bodies, food safety authorities and regulation 2. How to put public health and food safety in a position where it is not seen as being in opposition to commerce and trade, as the private sector has a key role to play and carries investment and development costs 3. What role the growth of plant-based products has, the need for novel proteins and increased production of ultra-processed foods might play in triggering new food safety challenges in the future 4. How ... Read morethe gap between science, academia and the consumer is best bridged and how the sciences is made understandable and when 5. What the level of knowledge is that regulators need in order to better regulate and who holds ownership for communicating about food safety 6. What role technological advancements, digitisation, novel foods and evolving processing methods might play in enhancing food safety, and correspondingly, nutrition and livelihoods. In particular, food, being a basic human need and the emotional, cultural and economic sentiments attached to it generated debate around what role technology could play in food. Read less

Action Track(s): 1

Keywords: Data & Evidence, Environment and Climate, Human rights, Innovation, Policy

Independent Dialogue

Food: Knowing what’s safe

Geographical focus: No borders

Discussion topic outcome

Ensuring the food industry in all countries has sufficient skills and knowledge to prepare safe, nutritious and affordable food even in times of disruption. The food industry can do more, especially with regards to sharing information about the journey of food from a factory or food-service environment to the individual preparing the food, but consumers have an important role to play. Food safety needs to be discussed more holistically and within national cultural journeys, in the context of changing diets and around education. We need to fundamentally relook at how we build the future food sy... Read morestem. Food safety is a global conversation and as we have seen from Covid-19, the world is interlinked, as are our food systems. We are all consumers with a vested interest in food. More work is needed to join up local, regional and national government, policy, food manufacturing and producers, educators and the retail sector. Food safety also needs to be contextualised against the backdrop of broader global challenges around a growing population, sustainability, climate change and inequality. The public health sector, which has gained more prominence with Covid-19 may also have an increasingly important role to play if given the chance. We need to take a look at the bigger picture of food risk and the role of food safety within that, looking at food safety not just from the perspective of immediate risks and hazards, but also around the topic of changing diets and areas such as climate change. Proposed solutions put forward by the group were as follows: 1. Ensuring that food safety is tied in with food security and factored into the evolving need for resilience planning on a national level, as highlighted through the Covid-19 pandemic, and also taking into account international linkages due to food supply chains 2. Improving the educational and training framework around food safety 3. Reviewing the divergent frameworks under which the food industry across its supply chain is operating ‘from farm to fork’ 4. Greater data collection and sharing is needed at various levels, from the national to the international level and in tandem with this, looking at the role of technology in determining how food safety data might be shared 5. Looking at where international institutions can support and extend influence at the national level around building and developing better food systems and infrastructures, including laboratories and scientific expertise to respond to and prevent food safety risks across the food supply chain Read less

Action Track(s): 1

Keywords: Data & Evidence, Environment and Climate, Human rights, Innovation, Policy

Independent Dialogue

Food: Knowing what’s safe

Geographical focus: No borders

Discussion topic outcome

3. Ensuring food safety information will be trusted by consumers Food fraud information is shared in varying channels, but food safety data is not shared in the same way. The private sector needs to do more to be transparent on food safety incidents, why recalls happen and their role in keeping consumers safe from harm. More can be done to involve the private sector in food safety policy-making to take account of production needs with mutual sharing of research and data. In order for food safety information to be trusted we also need to be realistic about the fact that much of the world doesn�... Read more��t eat food that comes directly from large companies or complex supply chains, it comes from local producers who sell directly to consumers, for example through road stalls. In high-income countries there is a large organised supply chain with companies who oversee it. The challenges are very different in informal structures where there may be a lack of food hygiene. In order to increase trust, we also need to make use of and understand the changing use of media and how people access information. Proposed solutions put forward by the group were as follows: 1. Moving food safety up the public health agenda, especially in countries without stringent food safety production, monitoring and retail standards – moving from prevention to cure 2. Mobilising local and community training as a powerful tool to share knowledge with consumers, along with corresponding and continued training at the industrial level 3. Ensuring that food safety systems keep pace with the way food is produced and consumed, so that food is safer by the time it reaches consumers at their purchase point 4. Understanding where trust lies, for example by gaining insight into perceptions, behaviours and cultural norms to understand sources of trust that are not associated with regulation, the food industry or authorities such as the government 5. Looking beyond food labels and product information to how technology can support around the use of social media and traceability systems to increase consumer knowledge of consumed food products 6. Understanding that people obtain food safety information from multiple sources including friends, family, television and that therefore food safety information needs to be disseminated across multiple sources Read less

Action Track(s): 1

Keywords: Data & Evidence, Environment and Climate, Human rights, Innovation, Policy

Independent Dialogue

Food: Knowing what’s safe

Geographical focus: No borders

Discussion topic outcome

2. Ensuring consumers across the world can identify the source of food they buy quickly and reliably Food labels are heavily relied on, but consumers are often overwhelmed by labels. As diets change and people move away from traditional foods or cook less, our approach to food safety labelling also needs also change. Education can play a key role in raising awareness about food safety (labels and otherwise) and be tied into a broader education around food systems, climate and similar issues. We need better educational initiatives, such as early school education programmes on food and nutrition... Read more, as currently these are often woefully inadequate. This affects all parts of the world, even parts with abundance. Campaigns can be very pejorative. As the global population grows, food safety and food fraud are also more interconnected – we need to categorise food risks accordingly and make sure that consumers do not have an over-abundance of information and/or mixed messaging that impacts what they can assess and how. We need to do more to understand informal food markets with a lack of formal structure to ensure poorer populations are not affected. Government support is needed to help transition to higher standards and more understanding. In order to communicate well with consumers, we also need to have more transparent supply chains and understand what we need to communicate so consumers can make an informed choice when buying food. Proposed solutions put forward by the group were as follows: 1. Reviewing minimum standards for how government and industry work together in communicating food sources and factoring this into revised public health goals 2. Reviewing the potential to expand expectations around food labelling beyond nutritional sources to including food source and sustainability considerations 3. Encouraging, where possible, ‘eat local’ food campaigns and consider the agricultural and food production infrastructure needed to do this 4. Utilise technology and more holistic labelling to assist consumers when making food purchase choices that encompass food safety, nutritional value, packaging and sustainability along with value Read less

Action Track(s): 1

Keywords: Data & Evidence, Environment and Climate, Governance, Human rights, Innovation

Independent Dialogue

Food: Knowing what’s safe

Geographical focus: No borders

Discussion topic outcome

Participants recognised that the global debate around food safety needs to be a core part of food security planning, considered against a backdrop of increased globalization of food production. They also noted that factors such as increasing global population growth and urbanisation required greater intersectoral and concerted international action in this area. Four key discussion topics were chosen, each of which gave rise to rich thinking on potential remedial action: 1. Ensuring accurate, consistent and easy to understand information about safe food available to all consumers by 2030. Peopl... Read moree are individuals living in individual communities – as a result we need more global, granular level detail around the perceptions and behaviours to determine who people trust, the corresponding communication methods and the channels required to overcome challenges around accessibility of information. There is no one-size fits all solution, but we should look at broader education about food and more transparent communications which are tailored to communities and which people can understand and trust. In many parts of the world, the consumer, who may be facing significant economic and environmental challenges will be under pressure around the food decisions they make so public stakeholders together with the private sector need to collaborate to develop better standardization and certification. This in turn will also increase trust. There is a schism between the level of understanding knowledge and standard of food safety in the ‘developed’ and the ‘developing’ world, , In the developed world, food safety standards are often taken for granted but here too, standards need to be raised and there needs to be a level of localisation. We need structured governance around food safety regulations especially if we see food safety as a universal human right. There is a lack of coordination between food regulatory authorities in different countries which can be confusing for the consumer, revealing a considerable opportunity to have more regulatory coordination which people across the world can understand. People rarely trust one source, they trust several, so public information that depersonalises information and presents it in a clear way can play a big role in food safety. We need to ensure that everyone purchasing, preparing and consuming food can access this information regardless of their situation. Proposed solutions put forward by the group were as follows: 1. The creation of an online database with food safety and food source information that could be accessed by multiple stakeholders including consumers 2. Ensuring that the private sector is encouraged – or required – to develop their food labelling practices and transparency around the source of food and potential risks associated therein 3. Encouraging the building of national and international farm to fork strategies, encompassing areas such as environmental standards to also have a food safety component 4. Reviewing how information is communicated and adapted to cultural and economic settings. This includes ensuring transparent, fit-for-purpose food safety information in geographies with and without access to digital communications. For example, using media such as radio, which is still a key source of information in certain parts of the world (especially where there is less digitization) to communicate with and educate consumers using influencing groups such as religious leaders and local celebrities 5. Incorporating food safety into campaigns around nutrition, diet and wellbeing Read less

Action Track(s): 1

Keywords: Data & Evidence, Environment and Climate, Human rights, Innovation, Policy

Independent Dialogue

Food: Knowing what’s safe

Geographical focus: No borders

Main findings

The main findings of the Food: Knowing What's Safe are as follows: 1. There is a lack of coordination between key parties across the global food system around food safety 2. There is a need for better and in some cases minimum food safety standards in the developing world 3. There is a lack of public trust in authorities around food safety, with many people relying on friends, family, celebrities and religious bodies for their knowledge of safe food 4. Food safety is not a key focus area in discussions around food security, global food systems and climate change, even though an increase in foo... Read mored safety standards, knowledge and production methods would have a significant impact on much of the world's population 5. More collaboration is needed across different stakeholder groups to focus on tangible and positive outcomes around food safety Read less

Action Track(s): 1

Keywords: Data & Evidence, Environment and Climate, Human rights, Innovation, Policy

Independent Dialogue

Food: Knowing what’s safe

Geographical focus: No borders

Major focus

This Independent Dialogue was titled ‘Food: Knowing What’s Safe’ which tallied with Action Track 1: Ensuring access to safe and nutritious food for all. Featuring participants from over 25 countries from science, industry, policy, healthcare and academia, it focused on how we could come together to discuss tangible and positive changes. The Dialogue adopted a positive, if urgent tone on how we might approach how the world produces, consumes and thinks about food in a safe and sustainable fashion. The Dialogue Convenor, Lloyd's Register Foundation, is an independent global charity that ha... Read mores a unique mission to engineer a safer world. This includes ensuring that people across the globe have access to information about food safety, that is accessible, trustworthy and understandable. The topic of Food Safety was chosen on the basis of the Foundation previously launching the World Risk Poll, surveying 150,000 people in 142 countries, statistically representing 98% of the world's population, including many people who don't usually have a voice, to look at perception and experience of risk in everyday life. It was clear that food safety - and specifically access to safe and nutritious food for all - was a major concern. Four percent worldwide, the equivalent of 300 million people said that unsafe food or water were among the two biggest threats to their safety. The Dialogue therefore looked at how we could manage the increasing demands of food safety, specifically relevant to the Action Track 1 and its relationship with Action Track 2 (Sustainable Consumption Patterns). However, the topic of Food Safety has significance across all tracks, including 3-5 in that it underpins all food systems. Participants were asked to consider what could be done to make information about safe food available to all, and the introductory session which framed the debate also highlighted the need for policymakers to have more accurate data, the needs of developing countries and the scarcity of data in low-income geographies. Other statistics and points brought to attention in framing the dialogue included: • Number of people who knew someone who had experienced serious harm from eating food • The UN has declared safe food to be a universal human right (yet the WHO estimates that 600m people fall ill yearly from eating unsafe food, 420,000 people die - with children and the elderly being particularly vulnerable) • Current perceptions of harm from food • Sources of trust around food and the sources of food safety information most trusted - often being heavily weighted towards family and friends, closely followed by food labels, then medical professionals, celebrities and religious leaders and correspondingly, low(er) trust in food safety authorities The dialogue also used expert testimony on how food safety is linked to population growth and its direct impact on food safety, along with the impact of climate change. Specifically: • The impact of climate change on increased crop infestation and subsequent loss of crops leading to an increased use of pesticides, causing issues around food safety and trading • The impact of climate change on the rise in fungal infections in crops • The melting of the polar ice caps, which contain the biggest source of mercury, now being released into seas and accumulating in fish that we consume • The shortage of fresh water available for one third of the world's population • The topic of sustainability and move to more plant-based diets/debate around eating less meat • The rise in ultra-processed foods, which can increase the risk of food fraud • The importance of transparency in the world food supply system and impact of the digitisation of food supply systems Participant groups, having gained these insights, then focused on 4 key areas in their groups: 1. Ensuring accurate, consistent and easy to understand information about safe food available to all consumers by 2030 2. Ensuring consumers across the world can identify the source of food they buy quickly and reliably 3. Ensuring food safety information will be trusted by consumers 4. Ensuring the food industry in all countries has sufficient skill Read less

Action Track(s): 1

Keywords: Data & Evidence, Environment and Climate, Human rights, Innovation, Policy

Independent Dialogue

Food for Life: The Role of Women In Promoting Integral Human Development

Geographical focus: No borders

Discussion topic outcome

Need to support women's role in educating future generations on a better use of agricultural resources, nurturing the integral development of communities, and transferring knowledge in support of resilient, inclusive and sustainable food systems. This work, often unrecognized in public spheres, should also be supported through political and economic measures

Action Track(s): 1, 3, 5

Keywords: Data & Evidence, Environment and Climate, Policy, Women & Youth Empowerment

Independent Dialogue

Food for Life: The Role of Women In Promoting Integral Human Development

Geographical focus: No borders

Discussion topic outcome

Speakers affirmed the need to formally recognize women's contributions across all stages of food systems, and enhance their participation in political processes destined to shape them. Of special importance is the involvement of women in early prevention and response strategies to food crises, and increasing their representation in leadership positions.

Action Track(s): 4, 5

Keywords: Data & Evidence, Governance, Policy, Women & Youth Empowerment

Independent Dialogue

Food for Life: The Role of Women In Promoting Integral Human Development

Geographical focus: No borders

Discussion topic outcome

Speakers affirmed the need for desegregated data to measure and give visibility to the work done by women (both formal and informal), so as to target national policies and budgets to their special needs and support their leadership in ensuring food security.

Action Track(s): 1, 3, 4

Keywords: Data & Evidence, Governance, Women & Youth Empowerment

Independent Dialogue

Food for Life: The Role of Women In Promoting Integral Human Development

Geographical focus: No borders

Main findings

The first session focused on the challenges and opportunities faced by female rural workers and small-scale farmers around the world. It featured presentations by Daniela Fumarola, Confederal Secretary of Italian Confederation of Trade Unions (CISL) and Ndaya Beltchika, Lead Technical Specialist for Gender and Social Inclusion at International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), who stressed the critical role of women in food production and the insufficient recognition of their contributions. The absence of specific data to measure the contributions of women in food systems, as well as t... Read moreheir specific challenges and needs (e.g. their exclusion from necessary productive resources like financial instruments, technology, training, etc.), places them at greater risk of being left behind by development processes. Speakers affirmed the need for desegregated data to measure and give visibility to the work done by women (both formal and informal), so as to target national policies and budgets to their special needs and support their leadership in ensuring food security. Following this discussion, Romana Koech of the AVSI Foundation in Kenya, Betty Rose Aguti and Musamba Mubanga from Caritas Uganda and Zambia respectively, brought the real-life testimonies of women in these countries, who are nurturing the development of their communities through their work in food production. These stories showcased how the “three Cs” aggravating present-day global hunger - Conflict, COVID, Climate Change - can be overcome with other, more positive “Cs”: Care for life, Culture of life, Community of life. The second session was centred around the contribution of women to food security through their participation in international political processes. The discussion was opened by Daniela Ropelato, Director of the Doctoral School of the Sophia University Institute, who asserted the “culture of care” (Laudato Si’, 231) as the necessary paradigm for holistic and collective action. Engaging political processes relating to food systems through the lens of care, would allow for the appreciation of the complementarity between men and women in political processes and forge necessary alliances in decision-making. Afterwards, Lola Castro, Regional Director for Southern Africa, World Food Programme (WFP), urged audiences to move beyond the interpretation of women as victims of an unsustainable, unjust and fragile food system, and recognize them as “agents of change” and leaders in the reformulation of systems. She reiterated the need to formally recognize their contributions across all stages of food systems, and enhance their participation in political processes destined to shape them. She stressed the importance of increasing the involvement of women in early prevention and response strategies to food crises, and increasing their representation in leadership positions. The panel was completed by Gabriella Arrigo, Head of International Relations at the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and Susie Snyder, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) who gave testimonies of successful international cooperation projects involving women in leadership positions in fields normally reserved to men. The novelty of their presentations was the relation between space missions and nuclear disarmament to the promotion of sustainable and inclusive food systems, particularly through the collection of data and the promotion of peace. The final session featured presentations by Marcela Villarreal, Director partnerships, advocacy and capacity development, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); Prof. Vera Zamagni, Professor of Economic History, University of Bologna; and Prof. Linda Ghisoni, Undersecretary of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, on the contribution of women to sustainable and inclusive food systems as household leaders. While Dr. Villareal reiterated the need to recognize and enhance the role of women in food systems through national policies and incentives, and increase their participation throughout decision-making processes, Prof. Vera Zamagni and Linda Ghisoni focused on the role of women as educators for a new “culture of care”. They explored the work of women in educating future generations on a better use of agricultural resources, nurturing the integral development of communities, and transferring knowledge in support of resilient, inclusive and sustainable food systems. This work, often unrecognized in public spheres, should also be supported through political and economic measures. The session was closed by Catalina Hinojosa López, from the Agriculture and Justice Village of the Economy of Francesco, who gave an inspiring testimony of her experiences with indigenous women in Ecuador and their role in perpetuating the buen vivir philosophy, by transferring knowledge to future generations about how to live in harmony with their communities and their environment. Working the land to ensure food for all, while caring for the earth and its people is possible. Read less

Action Track(s): 1, 3, 4, 5

Keywords: Data & Evidence, Policy, Trade-offs, Women & Youth Empowerment

Independent Dialogue

Food for Life: The Role of Women In Promoting Integral Human Development

Geographical focus: No borders

Major focus

Responding to the first lever of change of the UNFSS, women empowerment, the focus of this dialogue was the unique role of women in promoting human development, with emphasis on how to support their leadership in shaping resilient food systems across the globe. Women represent approximately 40% of the world’s rural agricultural workforce – nearly 50% in low-income countries – and they are crucial contributors to agri-food value chains as farmers, businesswomen, entrepreneurs and community leaders. They are central elements to ensuring food security and nutrition in their families and com... Read moremunities. However, they suffer from a higher vulnerability to food insecurity in relation to their male counterparts: as smallholder farmers, they produce the majority of the food in their countries, but few own the land they cultivate, and many don’t have access to public services and lack basic rights. At the same time, removal of forests, wetlands and wild eco-systems for annual cropping, removes habitats from which women source foods, medicines, energy and untapped biodiversity for future opportunities. Finally, women’s voices have largely been neglected in COVID-19 decision-making processes due to an enduring underrepresentation in senior positions in key fields of medicine and politics. This implies that the unique contribution of women to the regeneration of food systems in the post-COVID world remains largely unexplored. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the vulnerability of countless women across the world, yet they continue to be fundamental pillars in the transition to sustainable and resilient food systems, capable of producing enough food for all. The Catholic Church’s teaching has long recognized the equal dignity of men and women, especially with regards to their roles in public life and seeks to enhance their participation in processes addressing their exclusion from public life. Therefore, the focus of this dialogue was to i) listen to the injustices and challenges faced by women in food systems, ii) connect experiences of organizations, institutions and actors working to build up the capacity of women in food systems, and iii) inspire holistic proposals to promote the participation, representation and leadership of women in rebuilding resilient food systems and improving relations with others and with the planet. Read less

Action Track(s): 1, 3, 4, 5

Keywords: Data & Evidence, Environment and Climate, Human rights, Trade-offs, Women & Youth Empowerment

Independent Dialogue

Revitalizing ethnic cuisine for improved nutrition, nature positive food production, and equitable livelihoods

Geographical focus: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan

Area of divergence

Independent Dialogue

Revitalizing ethnic cuisine for improved nutrition, nature positive food production, and equitable livelihoods

Geographical focus: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan

Discussion topic outcome

To build resilience, the focus must be on food systems and not on farming systems. The food system incorporates wider food resources beyond the farm, for example from forests, wetlands, and home gardens – and therefore spreads risk and improves the ability to cope with shocks and stress. Future partnerships between the government and development partners must prioritize sustainable food production, food safety, reducing food waste, improving food value chains, and revitalization of neglected and underutilized crop species. Government and non-government organizations, with the common goal of ... Read moreimproved dietary diversity, nutrition, and health, should work together to revitalize ethnic cuisines and diverse food systems. There is a need from all levels of stakeholders, especially from policy makers, to support the growth of community-based food system initiatives and food policies that prioritize food systems and value chains in a holistic manner. Food and food cultures have evolved with human civilization. Safeguarding ethnic cuisines enhances the traditional and cultural identities of ethnic and indigenous communities in the HKH region and encourages them to conserve diverse food production systems. Preservation of ethnic cuisines also helps reinforce cultural identities, empowering these communities to create resilient food systems. The nutritional and health benefits of ethnic fermented foods provides good prospects for future foods. Strengthening the food value chain is key in bringing mountain food products to the market, which can ultimately enhance livelihoods of mountain farmers and producers. By buying directly and locally, we can also help build the resilience of women, small farmers, and vulnerable populations. Youth who have gained experience and skills from working abroad and returned due to COVID-19 could be engaged in revitalizing ethnic cuisines and addressing issues of hygiene and food safety. The young generation should be encouraged to take part in revitalizing ethnic cuisine and conserving agro diversity and associated traditional knowledge. Capacity support to communities, including extension and inputs services are crucial. Protecting ethnic cuisines helps in maintaining local food production systems and agrobiodiversity, along with long term management of ecosystem services. Conservation of ethnic cuisines feeds into the conservation of agrobiodiversity, and proper management of soil, water, forests, biodiversity, culture, traditions, and economy. Seed banks, ex-situ conservation, and data management and documentation of genetic resources for food and agriculture is closely linked to the revitalization of ethnic cuisines. Protection of ethnic cuisines also enriches the tradition/cultural identities of many ethnic communities, which can further encourage them to better manage on farm diversity. Furthermore, diversified food production systems not only lead to better diets but also increase agrobiodiversity, and reduce vulnerability to environmental, climatic or market challenges and shocks. Read less

Action Track(s): 5

Keywords: Data & Evidence, Environment and Climate, Governance, Innovation, Policy, Trade-offs, Women & Youth Empowerment

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