Food systems are at a crossroads. A profound transformation is needed to meet the 2030 Agenda and achieve food and nutrition security in its four dimensions: availability, access, utilisation and stability. But it is also necessary to face up to a number of complex and multidimensional challenges, such as world population growth, urbanisation and climate change, which are putting increasing pressure on natural resources, land, water and biodiversity. This need has been illustrated in previous HLPE reports and is now widely recognised. In this context, in October 2017, the HLPE was tasked by the UN Committee on Food Security to produce a report on « Agroecological approaches and other innovations for sustainable agriculture and food systems that enhance food security and nutrition », to be shared at the 46th plenary session of the UN Committee on Food Security.
The HLPE adopts a dynamic, multi-scale perspective, focusing on the concepts of transition and transformation. Many transitions need to take place, particularly in production systems and in the food value chain, in order to achieve a major transformation of agri-food systems. Small-scale incremental transitions, but also structural changes to institutions and norms will be necessary and must take place in a coordinated and integrated way to achieve the desired transformation of the global food system.
This type of transition combines technical interventions, investments and facilitating policies and instruments, and therefore requires the involvement of a multitude of actors at various scales. In its previous report, the HLPE highlighted the diversity of food systems between and within countries. These food systems are located in different environmental, socio-cultural and economic contexts, and face different challenges. Food system stakeholders will therefore need to devise transition paths adapted to different contexts in order to achieve sustainable systems.
The HLPE also identified 3 interrelated operational principles to help shape the pathways to sustainable food systems: enhancing resource efficiency, strengthening resilience and securing social responsibility. This report begins with the recognition of the human right to sustainable food systems. It considers that the 7 PANTHER principles (Participation, Accountability, Nondiscrimination, Transparency, Human dignity and Rule of law) should guide individual and collective actions to better address the four dimensions of food security and nutrition at different scales. This report and the recommendations it contains are intended to help policy-makers in governments and international organisations, research institutes, the private sector and civil society organisations to design and implement these transitions at all scales.
