The future of food is in our hands
The agri-food system is a complex term that may seem far from reality, but do you know that our lives depend on them? Every time you eat, you join the system. The foods we choose and the way we produce, prepare, cook and store make us an integral and active part of the way an agri-food system works.
A sustainable agri-food system is one in which a variety of adequate, nutritious and safe food is available at an affordable price to all, and where no one is hungry or suffering from any form of malnutrition. Shelves are stocked at the local grocery or food store, but less food is wasted and the food supply chain is more resilient to shocks like extreme weather, price increases or pandemics, all of which are limiting rather than deteriorating, environmental degradation or climate change. In fact, sustainable agri-food systems ensure food security and nutrition for all without compromising the economic, social and environmental foundations for future generations. They lead to better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all.
Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life
Why should you care?
Agri-food systems employ 1 billion people worldwide, more than any other economic sector. What's more, the way we produce, consume and, unfortunately, waste food puts a heavy burden on our planet and puts unnecessary pressure on natural resources, the environment and the climate. Food production too often disrupts or destroys natural habitats and contributes to species extinction. This kind of inefficiency costs us trillions of dollars, but most importantly, today's agri-food systems expose deep inequalities and injustices in our global society.
The COVID-19 pandemic underlined the need for an urgent change of course. This makes it even more difficult for farmers, already grappling with climate variability and extremes, to sell their harvest, while rising poverty is pushing an increasing number of city dwellers to use food banks and millions of people are in urgent need of food assistance. We need sustainable agri-food systems that can feed 10 billion people by 2050.
What will happen now?
There are solutions. Governments need to both redesign old policies and adopt new ones that promote sustainable production of affordable nutritious food and encourage farmer participation. Policies should promote equity and learning, foster innovation, increase rural incomes, provide safety nets to small shareholders and build climate resilience. They also need to consider the multiple interconnections between areas affecting food systems, including education, health, energy, social protection, finance and more, and align solutions. And especially the private sector, civil society, researchersThey need to be backed by a massive increase in responsible investments and strong support to reduce negative environmental and social impacts across sectors, including academia and academia .
With a view to getting back on track towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals , the UN Secretary-General will convene the first Food Systems Summit in September 2021 to build consensus on bold new actions to transform the way the world produces and consumes food.
Our actions are our future
Governments, the private sector, civil society, international organizations and academia will also need our help . We need to influence what is produced by increasing our demand for nutritious food that is produced sustainably, and at the same time be more sustainable in our daily actions, above all by reducing food loss and waste. We also have a responsibility to spread the word, raising awareness about the importance of a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. Efforts to reduce climate change, environmental degradation and our well-being depend on it. We must mobilize a food movement that advocates ambitious change.
What is the agri-food system?
Explore the various parts of the agri-food system to destroy everything that goes into producing our food and other non-food agricultural products, and examine how consumers, producers, traders can make changes to transform these systems into future-proof ones.
World Food Day – Today is your day!
Collective action in 150 countries makes World Food Day one of the most famous days in the UN calendar. Hundreds of events and outreach activities bring together governments, businesses, NGOs, the media and the general public. They promote awareness and action around the world for the starving and the need to provide healthy diets for all.
#WorldFoodDay 2021 willbe marked for the second time as the countries of the world deal with the widespread effects of the global Covid-19 pandemic. It's time to look to the future we must build together.
Make your day #WorldFoodDay - share your individual action online or join the call by developing a virtual event or event.
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