Expert in Sustainable Agri-food Systems and value chains and Climate Smart Agriculture
Posted on 19/02/2025
Dear Lal and EvalForward members,
Dear Lal and EvalForward members,
Many thanks to Lal for your comprehensive analysis and for shedding light on the essential prerequisites that policymakers and professionals need to consider when transforming the agri-food sector. I appreciate the clarity with which you emphasized that agricultural and food policies should be developed with the end users in mind—namely, the consumers—and that the focus should go beyond just economic outcomes to consider social and environmental perspectives as well.
As an expert in sustainable agricultural food systems and policy and strategy formulation, I would add that your observations are indeed valid, particularly regarding the challenges policymakers often face when dealing with existing systems that rely heavily on cash crops and unsustainable practices. Such systems often fall short when addressing food security, which involves access to nutritious food for all at all times. This must include not only economic factors but also environmental sustainability and social equity.
Various effective systems approaches and tools have been developed, which can be adapted to specific contexts and transformative goals. These approaches, grounded in comprehensive analysis, support the formulation of efficient policy and regulatory frameworks, as well as the design of evaluation and implementation strategies. Relevant resources include :
- International Food Policy Research Institute. 2021. 2021 Global Food Policy Report: Transforming Food Systems after COVID-19. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://doi.org/10.2499/9780896293991
- van Berkum, S., Dengerink, J., and Ruben, R. (2018). The Food Systems Approach: Sustainable Solutions for a Sufficient Supply of Healthy Food Sufficient Supply of Healthy Food. No. 2018–084. Economic Research Memorandum. The Hague: Wageningen Economic Research. doi:10.18174/451505
- The attached presentation that I have developed with the FAO Gender team on ‘Advancing gender equality and empowerment of women in food systems’presented at the Cultivating Gender Equality Conference12-15 October 2021 (Cultivating Equality: Advancing Gender Research in Agriculture and Food Systems - CGIAR) CGIAR GENDER Platform. 2021. Cultivating Equality: Advancing Gender Research in Agriculture and Food Systems−Daily Update, Friday, 15 October 2021. Nairobi, Kenya: CGIAR GENDER Platform. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/116960
I also wanted to highlight the importance of a common understanding of key leverage points in food systems transformation. To make meaningful progress, we must be able to act on these leverage points and measure the impact of our policies through agreed-upon indicators. This is crucial at both regional and global levels, where the complexity of the interlinked systems, such as trade, infrastructure, energy, and governance, must be considered.
On your point on food losses, the distinction between "food losses" and "food waste," as defined by the FAO under SDG 12.3, is another vital aspect. Food losses and food waste are driven by a wide range of causes that can vary from one region or country to another, depending on factors like the structure of food value chains and access to finance, infrastructure, and technology. These factors must be considered, especially as they relate to cross-cutting issues such as gender inequalities, education, climate change, and good governance, which all influence the efficiency and sustainability of food systems.
Moreover, policies and regulatory frameworks must address these interlinkages and trade-offs to ensure that they are efficient, transformative, and context specific. Effective monitoring and evaluation frameworks must be developed to track progress in each country, accounting for the unique regional and global factors that impact food system transformation.
Thank you once again for sharing your valuable insights. They will no doubt contribute to furthering the dialogue and shaping more informed, integrated strategies in our shared pursuit of sustainable, inclusive, and resilient food systems.
Best regards, Mireille Totobesola
Additional useful resources:
· Resources on systems approaches and tools for identifying the root causes of inefficiencies and sustainability challenges in agricultural and food systems—considering trade-offs and interconnections with sectors such as trade, finance (particularly rural and microfinance), infrastructure, energy, governance, peace, justice, gender equality, inclusion, nutrition, education, and health. These resources aid in developing effective policies, strategies, and interventions for transforming agricultural and food systems:
Cruz Zuniga, M., Lynn, M.L., Kaganzi Mwesigwa, E., Norell, D., Sriram, V., Tumusiime, E., 2019. Better together: improving food security and nutrition by linking market and food system. Research article: Food security through market and food systems. September 2019. Enterprise Development and Microfinance, 30:3, 189–205. http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/1755-1986.19-00008
De Brauw, A., M. van den Berg, I. Brouwer, H. Snoek, R. Vignola, M. Melesse, G. Lochetti, C. van Wagenberg, M. Lundy, E. d’Hotel, and R. Ruben. 2019. “Food System Innovations for Healthier Diets in Low and Middle-Income Countries.” IFPRI Discussion Paper 01816, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC.
FAO, EC, CIRAD. 2020. A methodological framework for the rapid assessment of national and sub-national food systems in low income and lower medium income countries
FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO. 2020. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020. Transforming food systems for affordable healthy diets. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/ca9692en
International Food Policy Research Institute. 2021. Food System Innovations and Digital Technologies to Foster Productivity Growth and Rural Transformation. Food Systems Summit Brief Prepared by Research Partners of the Scientific Group for the Food Systems Summit, May 2021.
International Food Policy Research Institute. 2021. 2021 Global Food Policy Report: Transforming Food Systems after COVID-19. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://doi.org/10.2499/9780896293991
Njuki, Jemimah; Eissler, Sarah; Malapit, Hazel J.; Meinzen-Dick, Ruth Suseela; Bryan, Elizabeth; and Quisumbing, Agnes R. 2021. A review of evidence on gender equality, women’s empowerment, and food systems. IFPRI Discussion Paper 2034. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.134469
van Berkum, S., Dengerink, J., and Ruben, R. (2018). The Food Systems Approach: Sustainable Solutions for a Sufficient Supply of Healthy Food. No. 2018–084. Economic Research Memorandum. The Hague: Wageningen Economic Research. doi:10.18174/451505
· FAO, 2020. SDG 12.3.1.a Food Loss Index - Guiding questions on the steps of
RE: Evaluating Agri-Food Systems Transformation Policies and Regulations
France
Mireille TOTOBESOLA
Expert in Sustainable Agri-food Systems and value chains and Climate Smart Agriculture
Posted on 19/02/2025
Dear Lal and EvalForward members,
Dear Lal and EvalForward members,
Many thanks to Lal for your comprehensive analysis and for shedding light on the essential prerequisites that policymakers and professionals need to consider when transforming the agri-food sector. I appreciate the clarity with which you emphasized that agricultural and food policies should be developed with the end users in mind—namely, the consumers—and that the focus should go beyond just economic outcomes to consider social and environmental perspectives as well.
As an expert in sustainable agricultural food systems and policy and strategy formulation, I would add that your observations are indeed valid, particularly regarding the challenges policymakers often face when dealing with existing systems that rely heavily on cash crops and unsustainable practices. Such systems often fall short when addressing food security, which involves access to nutritious food for all at all times. This must include not only economic factors but also environmental sustainability and social equity.
Various effective systems approaches and tools have been developed, which can be adapted to specific contexts and transformative goals. These approaches, grounded in comprehensive analysis, support the formulation of efficient policy and regulatory frameworks, as well as the design of evaluation and implementation strategies. Relevant resources include :
- International Food Policy Research Institute. 2021. 2021 Global Food Policy Report: Transforming Food Systems after COVID-19. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://doi.org/10.2499/9780896293991
- van Berkum, S., Dengerink, J., and Ruben, R. (2018). The Food Systems Approach: Sustainable Solutions for a Sufficient Supply of Healthy Food Sufficient Supply of Healthy Food. No. 2018–084. Economic Research Memorandum. The Hague: Wageningen Economic Research. doi:10.18174/451505
This report can be downloaded for free at https://doi.org/10.18174/451505 or at www.wur.eu/economic-research (under Wageningen Economic Research publications).
- The attached presentation that I have developed with the FAO Gender team on ‘Advancing gender equality and empowerment of women in food systems’ presented at the Cultivating Gender Equality Conference12-15 October 2021 (Cultivating Equality: Advancing Gender Research in Agriculture and Food Systems - CGIAR) CGIAR GENDER Platform. 2021. Cultivating Equality: Advancing Gender Research in Agriculture and Food Systems−Daily Update, Friday, 15 October 2021. Nairobi, Kenya: CGIAR GENDER Platform. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/116960
I also wanted to highlight the importance of a common understanding of key leverage points in food systems transformation. To make meaningful progress, we must be able to act on these leverage points and measure the impact of our policies through agreed-upon indicators. This is crucial at both regional and global levels, where the complexity of the interlinked systems, such as trade, infrastructure, energy, and governance, must be considered.
On your point on food losses, the distinction between "food losses" and "food waste," as defined by the FAO under SDG 12.3, is another vital aspect. Food losses and food waste are driven by a wide range of causes that can vary from one region or country to another, depending on factors like the structure of food value chains and access to finance, infrastructure, and technology. These factors must be considered, especially as they relate to cross-cutting issues such as gender inequalities, education, climate change, and good governance, which all influence the efficiency and sustainability of food systems.
Moreover, policies and regulatory frameworks must address these interlinkages and trade-offs to ensure that they are efficient, transformative, and context specific. Effective monitoring and evaluation frameworks must be developed to track progress in each country, accounting for the unique regional and global factors that impact food system transformation.
Thank you once again for sharing your valuable insights. They will no doubt contribute to furthering the dialogue and shaping more informed, integrated strategies in our shared pursuit of sustainable, inclusive, and resilient food systems.
Best regards,
Mireille Totobesola
Additional useful resources:
· Resources on systems approaches and tools for identifying the root causes of inefficiencies and sustainability challenges in agricultural and food systems—considering trade-offs and interconnections with sectors such as trade, finance (particularly rural and microfinance), infrastructure, energy, governance, peace, justice, gender equality, inclusion, nutrition, education, and health. These resources aid in developing effective policies, strategies, and interventions for transforming agricultural and food systems:
CFS, 2021. Voluntary guidelines on food systems and nutrition. FAO. Rome. CFS_VGs_Food_Systems_and_Nutrition_Strategy_EN.pdf (fao.org)
Cruz Zuniga, M., Lynn, M.L., Kaganzi Mwesigwa, E., Norell, D., Sriram, V., Tumusiime, E., 2019. Better together: improving food security and nutrition by linking market and food system. Research article: Food security through market and food systems. September 2019. Enterprise Development and Microfinance, 30:3, 189–205. http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/1755-1986.19-00008
De Brauw, A., M. van den Berg, I. Brouwer, H. Snoek, R. Vignola, M. Melesse, G. Lochetti, C. van Wagenberg, M. Lundy, E. d’Hotel, and R. Ruben. 2019. “Food System Innovations for Healthier Diets in Low and Middle-Income Countries.” IFPRI Discussion Paper 01816, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC.
Dekeyser, K., Rampa, F., D’Alessandro, C., & Bizzotto Molina, P. (2020). The food systems approach in practice: Our guide for sustainable transformation. Maastricht: European Centre for Development Policy Management. The food systems approach in practice: Our guide for sustainable transformation - ECDPM Discussion Paper 278
FAO. 2019. The State of Food and Agriculture 2019. Moving forward on food loss and waste reduction. Rome. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. The State of Food and Agriculture 2019 (fao.org)
FAO, EC, CIRAD. 2020. A methodological framework for the rapid assessment of national and sub-national food systems in low income and lower medium income countries
FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO. 2020. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020. Transforming food systems for affordable healthy diets. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/ca9692en
HLPE. 2019. Agroecological and other innovative approaches for sustainable agriculture and food systems that enhance food security and nutrition. A report by the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on World Food Security, Rome HLPE Report #14 - Agroecological and other innovative approaches for sustainable agriculture and food systems that enhance food security and nutrition (fao.org)
International Food Policy Research Institute. 2021. Food System Innovations and Digital Technologies to Foster Productivity Growth and Rural Transformation. Food Systems Summit Brief Prepared by Research Partners of the Scientific Group for the Food Systems Summit, May 2021.
International Food Policy Research Institute. 2021. 2021 Global Food Policy Report: Transforming Food Systems after COVID-19. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://doi.org/10.2499/9780896293991
Njuki, Jemimah; Eissler, Sarah; Malapit, Hazel J.; Meinzen-Dick, Ruth Suseela; Bryan, Elizabeth; and Quisumbing, Agnes R. 2021. A review of evidence on gender equality, women’s empowerment, and food systems. IFPRI Discussion Paper 2034. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.134469
van Berkum, S., Dengerink, J., and Ruben, R. (2018). The Food Systems Approach: Sustainable Solutions for a Sufficient Supply of Healthy Food. No. 2018–084. Economic Research Memorandum. The Hague: Wageningen Economic Research. doi:10.18174/451505
· FAO, 2020. SDG 12.3.1.a Food Loss Index - Guiding questions on the steps of
the data collection strategy https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/a9799ec1-22b5-4942-80b3-a3f5626cce26/content
· Agenda 2030 and FAO methodology for SDG indicator 12.3.1a Food Loss Index
Food loss measurement | Technical Platform on the Measurement and Reduction of Food Loss and Waste | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations