Consumers as changemakers: achieving access to food for a healthy planet

Agrifood systems are central to achieving food security and nutrition goals, ensuring that nutritious, healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate food is accessible to all. However, more than one-third of the global population struggles to afford a healthy diet, with nearly one in ten facing hunger. The ongoing environmental crisis threatens to worsen these numbers, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable transformation that addresses both human and planetary needs. 

FAO co-organized a session to find cohesive solutions to these interconnected challenges and highlighted how addressing sustainable consumption patterns- starting with the fundamental consumer right to access nutritious food- can offer a comprehensive solution to these interrelated issues. 

The session, held in partnership with the NGO Consumers International, during the Sustainable Lifestyle Summit, featured contributions from various stakeholders, including the United Nations Food Systems Coordination Hub, national governments, and research institutions who identified key takeaways from the discussion.

Key Takeaways

• Consumers as co-creators of agrifood systems transformation: We need to view consumers as co-creators of agrifood systems, not merely as buyers.
• Empowering consumers to influence what is produced, how it is distributed, and the values that shape the food economy is critical for driving sustainable change. It could be done by creating genuine opportunities for consumers to have their voices heard and ensure their participation in policy discussions.
• Interconnected Actions for Interconnected Challenges: Addressing the global food crisis requires integrated actions that tackle the environmental, economic, and social dimensions of food access and sustainability.
• The Power of Consumer Voices: Bringing consumer insights to the forefront is vital in identifying barriers and opportunities within agrifood systems, ensuring that solutions are both relevant and effective.
• Policy Reform for a Just Transition: A coordinated approach to policy reform helps to ensure a just transition to sustainable lifestyles, with integrated responses that address both consumer needs and environmental imperatives.
• The Role of Social Protection and the Private Sector: Targeted social protection programs are essential, alongside active engagement from the private sector in ensuring equitable access to healthy food.
• Promoting local practices: Focusing on local food procurement, reducing food waste, promoting fair food prices, advancing sustainable farming practices, and upholding food justice are all critical components of building resilient and sustainable agrifood systems. 

You can watch the full session here.