Advancing Transformation of Agrifood Systems

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, University College London (IIPP UCL), and the Government of Ireland, hosted a three-day Training of Trainers (ToT) programme on tools and methods to support the design and implementation of policies for agrifood systems transformation.  

Held in November at FAO headquarters in Rome and online, the event brought together experts from FAO’s regional, country, and headquarters offices, fostering an exchange of ideas and real-world experiences in applying more innovative, systems-based approaches to some of the most pressing agri-food challenges.

Ms. Corinna Hawkes, Director of the Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division (ESF) in FAO, emphasized that “We all need to learn together about how we are actually going to make changes across the system.”

Prof. Rainer Kattel, Deputy Director from IIPP UCL, stated that "It's not only in agri-food that we talk about system transformation; there are many policy areas where similar thinking and applications are taking place.” Lessons learned from other sectors can be applied to the agri-food domain, encouraging cross-sectoral learning and the adaptation of successful approaches from different contexts.

Building public sector capacity for agrifood systems change

The workshop addressed several key themes, firstly focusing on the critical need to strengthen public sector capacity for agrifood systems transformation. Participants emphasized the importance of understanding how capabilities are distributed within the system and identifying the key actors who can drive meaningful change. Ms Rhoda Muffya, National Coordinator from FAO Zambia, highlighted the need for governments to take ownership of the agrifood systems transformation agenda, warning, “Reliance on external consultants…undermines the capacity of decision-makers who must understand what needs to be done and how to support it.”

Participants also stressed the value of South-South learning exchanges and clustering countries with similar characteristics to enable the adaptation of successful strategies to local contexts. Ms Ornella Tiboni, Nutrition and Food Systems Specialist at the FAO Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (RLC), talked about the Sustainable School Feeding Network in Latin America and the Caribbean, hosted by the Brazilian government, as a platform for regional knowledge exchange. The network enables countries in the region, including small island states, to develop school feeding programmes informed by good practices and experiences.

Harnessing data and evidence

Presentations introduced qualitative tools like Iceberg Models and Spaghetti Maps which provide structured ways to understand complex agrifood systems, helping decision-makers identify underlying causes, interactions, and leverage points for more effective policies.

Quantitative data and analysis are also crucial for validating qualitative insights, monitoring progress, and informing evidence-based decision-making. Ms. Monica Schuster, Global Coordinator from the Office of the Chief Economist in FAO, introduced the Common Country Analysis (CCA) and United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), a systems-based, data-driven initiative designed to accelerate agrifood system transformation at the country level. The initiative follows a three-level approach: assessing the current state of national agrifood systems, identifying the root causes of key challenges, and developing actionable proposals for meaningful change.

Innovation as a catalyst for change

By creating space for local actors to experiment and innovate, systems can become more adaptive and responsive to the diverse needs and conditions within the agri-food landscape. Recognizing the need to engage actors at different levels of the system, Brazil redesigned its strategy to include local governments as key partners. The new approach emphasizes the "power of the cities" and encourages local-level innovation in the design and implementation of food security policies, as explained by Mr Joao Intini, Policy Officer at FAO-RLC.

FAO has also successfully fostered spaces for experimentation through policy labs, as explained by Ms. Nevena Alexandrova, Agricultural Extension Officer, from the Office of Innovation in FAO. These labs aim to foster systemic change by bringing together diverse stakeholders to identify subsystems and entry points within agri-food systems, framing problems collaboratively, and co-creating innovative policy solutions.

Fostering cross-sectoral coordination

Discussions also touched on strategies to engage non-government actors in decision-making such as reframing policy issues to align with stakeholders' interests. In Chile, a net food exporter with a strong agricultural sector contributing significantly to the national GDP, "food sovereignty" can be seen as a potential threat to existing economic interests. To navigate this, the Food Security Strategic Plan strategically frames food sovereignty as a means to enhance food security and nutrition, integrating economic, environmental, and cultural aspects of sustainability.

Outcomes and next steps

The discussions during the workshop and the real-world examples shared by participants will inform the development of a handbook for facilitators on the topic. This handbook will serve as a practical resource for disseminating the above-mentioned approaches and tools in agrifood systems policymaking.

As a follow-up, a session will be organized early next year with the workshop participants to present the draft handbook and gather their feedback for its final publication. This is to ensure that the handbook reflects the diverse experiences and expertise shared during the workshop and remains a collaborative, participant-driven tool.

For more information about the programme, please contact:

Elena Teodora Ilie
Agrifood and Innovation Systems Expert, ESF
[email protected]
&
Siobhan Kelly
Agribusiness Officer, ESF
[email protected]