As stakeholders, researchers, policy makers and civil society representatives are discussing  challenges and solutions across the five Action Tracks of the UN Food Systems Summit, it is becoming increasingly clear that the necessary transitions towards more sustainable food systems will require additional efforts to overcome evidence gaps through accurate data and reliable scientific evidence. One important outcome of the UN Food Systems Summit should be a clearer understanding of what is needed in this regard. The aim of this dialogue is therefore to kick start discussions on this emerging research agenda for science for food systems policy.

The dialogue consists of three sessions:

• In the first session, the three convening organisations will set the scene. OECD will reflect on the relative roles of “facts, interests, and values” based on its recent flagship publication Making Better Policies for Food Systems, while CGIAR and Akademiya2063 will provide perspectives on science through South-South cooperation.
• The second session consists of five parallel breakout sessions (one for each Action Track) where participants will identify an initial list of high-priority evidence gaps to be addressed by a science for food systems policy agenda.
• The final session features a panel with policy experts acting as “critical friends”, reflecting on the priorities coming out of the breakout sessions, and identifying cross-cutting themes, possible trade-offs, or promising approaches to address these evidence gaps.

The goal for this Dialogue is to create a better understanding of the evidence gaps currently holding back action to transform food systems, and consequently to kick start the definition of a priority research agenda.

This dialogue will thus act as a preparatory step towards the Science Days on July 8-9, and is organised in collaboration with the Scientific Group. Importantly, the Dialogue will focus on the content of the research agenda and will not cover the question how science for food systems policy should be organised institutionally, a question which is currently studied in other fora.