FAO Agricultural Development Economics Technical Study, No. 23.

After decreasing for nearly a decade, hunger is once again on the rise. The major drivers behind this reversal – especially in low- and middle-income countries – are conflict, climate extremes and variability, and economic downturns. This crisis – exacerbated by the economic shocks stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic containment measures – underlines the urgent need to transform food systems for food security, improved nutrition and affordable healthy diets. This prompted FAO, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to focus the theme of The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021 on possible transformative pathways and portfolios of policies to achieve these objectives. This paper analyses 136 case studies received from a call for best practices in transforming food systems to improve the affordability of healthy diets and build resilience to the major drivers of food security and nutrition. These can help countries formulate context-specific portfolios of policies, investments and laws that integrate different sectors – environmental, health and social protection, among others – to move from siloed approaches to integrated food systems solutions.

The findings in this brief have been adapted from the FAO report The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021. Transforming food systems for food security, improved nutrition and affordable healthy diets for all.