Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

1. When you think about advancing an SPI for agrifood systems in your country, what is the greatest challenge that the FAO guidance, such as presented here, can help address? What suggestions do you have to make the guidance more practical and useable at the country level?

• When you think about advancing an SPI for agrifood systems in your country, what is the greatest challenge that the FAO guidance, such as presented here, can help address? 

Agrifood systems provide food, nutrition, employment and economic security to millions of people in India (the country I live in). They are, however, facing unprecedented challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. The concerned government departments and units in the country are making efforts to operationalize science-policy interface (SPI) in the agrifood sector. There is a need for urgent action informed by the best available science and evidence. Agrifood systems transformation, in particular, requires solutions that transcend conventional policy boundaries and take into account different experiences, expertise and values. The multiple dimensions and complexities of agrifood systems highlight the need for a holistic approach and the inclusion of knowledge from both the academic (for, e.g., scientific research) and non-academic (for, e.g., knowledge of indigenous people and small-scale producers) spheres (including mechanisms, processes and governance structures) to equitably integrate and translate knowledge and evidence for policymaking.

Source: Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (September, 2023). “Strengthening science-policy interfaces for agrifood systems, Hundred and Thirty-seventh Session, Rome, 6-10 November 2023” (Accessed on April 23, 2024 from: https://www.fao.org/3/nn083en/nn083en.pdf).   

• What suggestions do you have to make the guidance more practical and useable at the country level?

The stakeholders in the agricultural sector need to devise renewed strategies to make the agrifood systems sustainable. This aspect gains increased significance in view of food insecurity resulting from war (conflict) situations in some countries/regions of the globe. More efficient and meaningful SPIs (science-policy interfaces) must deliver at least the following three priorities: (1) the integration of research and data across food systems to support multi-sectoral and cross-scalar policies that combine food and nutrition security, public health, environmental sustainability and societal wellbeing and equity; (2) the provision of a robust, transparent and independent synthesis and assessment of knowledge, including scientific evidence and insights from the relevant stakeholders; and (3) the provision of a relevant, policy-related research agenda. Together, addressing these priorities will help to ensure the legitimacy of policy advice through an independent, transparent, credible and authoritative consensus on scientific evidence and other forms of knowledge, thereby helping to overcome both controversies and uncertainties and to fill knowledge gaps.

Source: Singh, B.K., Arnold, T., Biermayr-Jenzano, P. et al. “Enhancing science – policy interfaces for food systems transformation” (Accessed on April 23, 2024 from: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-021-00406-6).   

2. Are the sections/elements identified in the draft guidance the key ones to strengthen SPIs at the national level? If not, which other elements should be considered? Are there any other issues that have not been sufficiently covered in the draft guidance? Are any sections/topics under- or over-represented in relation to their importance?

• Are the sections/elements identified in the draft guidance the key ones to strengthen SPIs at the national level? If not, which other elements should be considered? 

The draft guidance identifies all relevant elements for strengthening SPIs at the national level. However, from micro level point of view, under VIII PILLARS, I suggest adding below:

D. Pillar 4: Institutional mechanism for gender equality and equity

Strategies need to be devised to ensure that the above aspect forms part of institutional mechanism aimed at strengthening SPIs. In view of this, relevant information needs to be added in the draft guidance.

• Are there any other issues that have not been sufficiently covered in the draft guidance? Are any sections/topics under- or over-represented in relation to their importance?

Important Point: I find the contents covered to my satisfaction. However, before finalizing the draft guidelines, I suggest that Dr Preet Lidder, Technical Adviser and the FAO Forum team organise one-day duration “Dissemination Workshop” to get more inputs. I will be good idea to have this type of workshop, may be by hybrid mode. 

3. In order to make the guidance as concrete as possible, we are including numerous boxes/cases studies on real-life use cases. In this context, please contribute 300-450 words on examples, success stories or lessons learnt from countries that have/are strengthening SPIs for agrifood systems, including addressing asymmetries in power, collaboration across knowledge systems, connecting across scales, capacity development activities and fostering learning among SPIs.

In response to this question, I present following initiative:

Name of the project: 

Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for the Horizon Europe candidate partnership Agriculture of Data

Description of the project: 

The primary goal of this Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for the Horizon Europe candidate partnership Agriculture of Data is to address the scientific research, development and innovation needs within the overall scope of the partnership adequately and comprehensively. The SRIA follows up on the partnership document published in March 2022, building on its participatory approach and co-creation process, which included a number of outreach activities and public consultation. The partnership document discusses the overall scope and approach of the partnership, its intervention logic and the envisaged governance structures. This partnership aims to enhance sustainable agricultural production and to strengthen policy monitoring and evaluation capacities through exploiting the potential of Earth Observation (EO), environmental, agricultural and other data, in combination with state of the art data technologies. Data-based solutions are key assets to boost the resiliency of the sector and to strengthen its competitiveness in the short- medium- and long-term on local and global scales. They are also key enablers for implementing and assessing the performance of European and national policies smartly and efficiently. The further development of sustainable and competitive agricultural will require the sector simultaneously reduce its environmental footprint, respond to the decline in biodiversity, while ensuring food security and adapting to climate change. The partnership Agriculture of Data will enable the sector to meet those challenges and cope with trade-offs, in particular through providing a foundation for decision-making support, for e.g. producers and policy-makers.

The primary goal of this Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for the Horizon Europe candidate partnership Agriculture of Data is to address the scientific research, development and innovation needs within the overall scope of the partnership adequately and comprehensively. The SRIA follows up on the partnership document published in March 2022, building on its participatory approach and co-creation process, which included a number of outreach activities and public consultation. The partnership document discusses the overall scope and approach of the partnership, its intervention logic and the envisaged governance structures. This partnership aims to enhance sustainable agricultural production and to strengthen policy monitoring and evaluation capacities through exploiting the potential of Earth Observation (EO), environmental, agricultural and other data, in combination with state of the art data technologies. Data-based solutions are key assets to boost the resiliency of the sector and to strengthen its competitiveness in the short- medium- and long-term on local and global scales. They are also key enablers for implementing and assessing the performance of European and national policies smartly and efficiently. The further development of sustainable and competitive agricultural will require the sector simultaneously reduce its environmental footprint, respond to the decline in biodiversity, and while ensuring food security and adapting to climate change. The partnership Agriculture of Data will enable the sector to meet those challenges and cope with trade-offs, in particular through providing a foundation for decision-making support, for e.g. producers and policy-makers.

Source: Horizon Europe Candidate Partnership Agriculture of Data (March, 2-23). “European Partnership “Agriculture of Data” - Unlocking the potential of data for sustainable agriculture - Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda” (Accessed on April 23, 2024 from: https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-08/AgData%20SRIA%20final_version.pdf).   

4. Is there additional information that should be included? Are there any key references, publications, or traditional or different kind of knowledges, that are missing in the draft and which should be considered?

Following information forms introductory part of the draft document: 

The current world is afflicted with crises which affect the integrity of our food systems’ sustainability, including its capability to provide nutritional and quality foods, decent livelihood opportunities, and the biological diversity’s capacity to produce renewable, ecological yield. The crises are myriad and nuanced, with unclear triggers and trajectories – ranging from land-use agricultural production, to food processing, through waste management. However, its socioeconomic impacts are clear. Transforming global food systems has the potential to guarantee a just society that would address human health, reduce environmental pollution, and secure fundamental rights for communities. Investing in food systems’ transformation has the notable advantage being self-perpetuating, further enhancing its resilience for intergenerational equity.

Source: “UN Environment Management Group Nexus Dialogues” (Accessed on April 22, 2024 from: https://unemg.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/EMG-ND-on-Food-Systems-Resilience_Final.pdf).

Brief Biography of Contributor:

I, Independent Researcher (Scholar) retired (on June 30, 2020), as Technical Assistant, from Population Education Resource Centre, Department of Lifelong Learning & Extension, S.N.D.T. Women's University, Mumbai, India. I underwent training in demography, with award of Government of India Fellowship, during 1986-1987 from the IIPS, Mumbai. Also, I acquired Ph. D. from University of Patna in 1999. My other qualifications include Post-Master’s Diploma in Adult & Continuing Education, Certificate Course on Hospital and Health Care Management, and Diploma in Human Resource Development. I have authored (some co-authored) 5 booklets, 4 books, 23 book chapters, 97 journal articles, 2 monographs, 7 research studies, & 56 papers for national & international conferences (some with bursary). I have been awarded with Certificate of Excellence in Reviewing for 2017, 2018, 2021 & 2022. I have been conferred with  Excellence of Research Award for outstanding contribution & recognition in the field of agriculture in 2021.