Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

Re: 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?

POLICY MAKING PROCESS

The policy making process currently stays in between the highly fragmented agriculture diversities and the global digital system convergence.

DIVERSITIES

The food production system is fragmented and highly diversified in crops, farm size, farm budget, climate, local infrastructure available, ...

DIGITAL

At the same time, digital allows convergence of information, easy(er) connection throughout the player of value chain, knowledge sharing (geographically and over time) and much more.

Digital represents a tremendous opportunity to allow local policy makers to better connect locally (aggregating info and accessing them efficiently) and globally (keeping up with the newest opportunities).

The digital divide is progressively diminishing with a more global coverage and more affordable smartphones pushing penetration in developing countries.

FARMERS & CONSUMERS INVOLVEMENT

Farmers and consumers are the key entities in the process: the first produce, the latter pay. They should be included in the policy making process and digital platform finally make it easy to connect and share.

Representative of both categories should be constantly present and have a more relevant weight into the decision making process. 

(CON)FEDERATIVE DECISION MAKING PROCESS

As agri is significantly impacting the environment and most food cross the national (and often continental) borders, a multi-level body system of decision making process is desirable, having the core of the international body focusing on the issues having a global impact on people and planet health while having a focus on the global food system resiliency. Local bodies will have more time and freedom to focus on specificities of the local production.