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Africa is still battling with hunger and malnutrition. While there are reasons for hope, accelerated transformation depends on curbing predatory behaviour and ensuring that change comes from the continent itself.
There is clarity on the outcomes desired from the transformation of food systems but not on the ways to bring about that transformation. On-the-ground actions are key to illuminate pathways and kick off change, says Lawrence Haddad.
Current knowledge on what’s needed to achieve food security and sustainable food systems could have brought us further than where we are now. Without structural changes, however, progress is bound to remain stalled.
The recent involvement of Nestlé in the Africa Food Prize reinforces the presence of the ultra-processed food industry in the continent and invites us to reflect on the implications this may have for Africa’s sustainable food systems agenda.
Climate change mitigation in agri-food systems is hindered by the weak interconnection between research, policy and societal action. Modelling tools, together with international superordinate bodies and stakeholder-inclusive assessment frameworks, can support a better alignment between these three pillars of human progress.
Finance is a critical catalyst of food systems transformation. At the 2021 United Nations Food Systems Summit, the Financial Lever Group suggested five imperatives to tap into new financial resources while making better use of existing ones. These imperatives are yet to garner greater traction to instigate meaningful change.
Shifting finance towards food security and sustainability goals will require a systemic approach and the involvement of both public and private actors.