Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

What are the barriers and opportunities for scientists and other knowledge holders to contribute to informing policy for more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems?



There are several barriers that can prevent scientists and other knowledge holders from effectively contributing to informing policy for agrifood systems:

• Limited access to decision-makers and policymakers: Scientists and other experts may not have the connections or resources to engage with decision-makers and policymakers.

• Lack of understanding of the policy-making process: Scientists and experts may not be familiar with the political and bureaucratic processes that govern policy-making, making it difficult for them to navigate and effectively participate.
• Limited resources: Scientists and experts may not have the funding or resources to conduct the research or analysis necessary to inform policy.
• Limited engagement of stakeholders: Scientists and experts may not engage with stakeholders and community members in a meaningful way, which can limit the impact of their research and analysis.
• Limited capacity for multi-disciplinary research and collaboration: Scientists and experts may not have the capacity to conduct multi-disciplinary research or collaborate with other experts, which can limit the breadth and depth of their research and analysis.

Despite these barriers, there are also several opportunities for scientists and other knowledge holders to contribute to informing policy for agrifood systems:

• Engaging with decision-makers and policymakers: Scientists and experts can engage with decision-makers and policymakers to share their research and expertise, and to help inform policy.

• Building partnerships: Scientists and experts can build partnerships with other stakeholders, including community members, industry leaders, and policymakers, to help inform policy.

• Using data and technology: Scientists and experts can use data and technology to conduct research and analysis that informs policy.

• Leveraging existing networks: Scientists and experts can leverage existing networks, such as professional associations, to share information and collaborate with other experts.

• Developing interdisciplinary research: Scientists and experts can develop interdisciplinary research that brings together different perspectives and expertise to inform policy.

Scientists and other knowledge holders can contribute to agrifood systems policy by engaging with decision-makers and policymakers, building partnerships with other stakeholders, using data and technology to conduct research and analysis, and leveraging existing networks to share information and collaborate with other experts.



In general, policy-makers tend to prioritise evidence that is relevant, reliable, and actionable.

Some of the strengths of the process include the ability to bring together a wide range of stakeholders and perspectives, the use of evidence and data to inform decision-making, and the ability to adapt and respond to changing conditions. Some of the weaknesses of the process include the potential for political and economic considerations to take precedence over scientific evidence, the potential for bias and power imbalances among stakeholders, and the potential for the process to be slow and bureaucratic.



Sustainability science, inter-disciplinarity, and trans-disciplinarity can inform agrifood systems policy by providing a holistic perspective that takes into account the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of the issue. However, opportunities and challenges can arise when attempting to apply these approaches to policy-making. These include the need for effective communication and collaboration among experts from different fields, the need to balance competing priorities, and the need to navigate the complexity of the policy-making process.



Power asymmetries among stakeholders can be effectively taken into account in science-policy processes by ensuring that the voices and perspectives of marginalised and underrepresented groups are heard, and by taking steps to address structural and systemic barriers that can limit their participation.

This can include efforts to increase transparency and accountability in the policy-making process, to engage with stakeholders and community members in a meaningful way, and to build partnerships and networks that bring together a wide range of perspectives and expertise.



Researchers can take several actions to align their research to problems and challenges faced by agrifood systems, such as:

• Engaging with stakeholders and community members: Researchers can engage with stakeholders and community members to understand the problems and challenges they face, and to identify opportunities for research that can inform policy.

• Conducting interdisciplinary research: Researchers can conduct interdisciplinary research that brings together different perspectives and expertise to understand the complex issues facing agrifood systems.

• Building partnerships: Researchers can build partnerships with other experts, including scientists, policymakers, industry leaders, and community members, to help inform policy.

• Using data and technology: Researchers can use data and technology to conduct research and analysis that informs policy.

• Leveraging existing networks: Researchers can leverage existing networks, such as professional associations, to share information and collaborate with other experts.

Research questions in the sphere of work are often framed by academic interests, but also by the focus of funders. Researchers need to balance their own interests with the goals and objectives of the funding agencies.



The research and policy-making communities in the sphere of work may not always be united in their understanding of the challenges facing agrifood systems. Scientists may focus on specific research questions, while policymakers may focus on practical solutions.



Researchers can work across disciplines and draw on expertise from academic and non-academic actors, including Indigenous Peoples and small-scale producers, to provide a holistic perspective on agrifood systems challenges.



Co-producing research with other knowledge holders and non-academic stakeholders is important for informing policy in agrifood systems as it allows for a more inclusive and diverse perspective. It also ensures that research is more relevant to the specific context, and that stakeholders are more likely to use and act upon the research findings.



Universities and research organisations can support researchers to produce and disseminate knowledge products by providing resources such as funding, staff, and equipment. They can also provide training and support for knowledge translation, such as by organising workshops and seminars on effective communication and dissemination strategies.



Universities and research organisations can create and maintain institutional linkages between producers and users of research by building partnerships and networks with other organisations and stakeholders, such as government agencies, industry groups, and community organisations. They can also provide dedicated resources for knowledge translation, such as communication specialists or science policy officers.



Incentives and rewards for effective policy engagement can include funding for research and dissemination activities, recognition through awards and promotions, and opportunities for professional development and training.



Universities and research organisations can engage in activities such as evidence synthesis and guideline development to collate evidence for policy. They can also engage in processes to build evidence into agrifood policy processes, such as through government consultations and knowledge management systems.



Universities and research organisations can also contribute to efforts to ensure that evidence is provided for policy-making that is grounded in an understanding of a national or sub-national contexts, demand-driven, and focused on contextualising the evidence for a given decision in an equitable way by conducting research that is context-specific and relevant to the needs of the community and stakeholders. They can also engage with stakeholders and community members to ensure that their research is accessible, understandable and relevant to the specific context.



Evidence is considered credible, relevant, and legitimate when it is based on sound research methods, has been peer-reviewed, and is consistent with other available evidence. Additionally, evidence is considered relevant when it addresses a specific problem or question of interest to the audience, and legitimate when it is derived from trustworthy and unbiased sources.



To balance the different requirements of different audiences, it is important to communicate the evidence in a clear and accessible manner, and to provide context and explanations that help to make the evidence relevant and understandable. Additionally, it is important to involve stakeholders in the process of evidence generation, assessment and communication, to ensure that their perspectives and needs are taken into account.



Evidence can be assessed in a rigorous, transparent, and neutral manner by using established methods and standards, such as systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and by involving experts from different disciplines and perspectives. Additionally, assessments should be conducted in a transparent manner, with all methods, data, and results fully disclosed, and by being aware of potential biases and conflicts of interest.



Assessments of evidence can best be communicated to all stakeholders by using clear and accessible language, providing context and explanations, and involving stakeholders in the process. This can include organising workshops, seminars, and other events to share the evidence and to discuss its implications with stakeholders, and by using digital and social media to disseminate the evidence to a wide range of audiences.