
New Food System Integrated Program to support the transformation of food systems into nature-positive, resilient, and pollution free system
FAO and IFAD are developing a global Food Systems Integrated Program to support selected nations to catalyze the transformation to sustainable food systems that are nature-positive, resilient, and pollution-reduced. This Program will be funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and co-financed by countries, GEF agencies and other partners. The online consultation invites stakeholders to contribute to the Theory of Change and the Draft Results Framework for the Program, and to share their experiences on the relevant issues.

Use and application of CFS policy recommendations on price volatility and food security, and social protection for food security and nutrition
The Committee on World Food Security (CFS) has consistently encouraged stakeholders to voluntarily share their experiences and good practices in applying CFS policy products through reporting individual (direct) experiences by one group of stakeholders or through reporting the results of multi-stakeholder consultations or events (organized to discuss experiences) by several groups of stakeholders.

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?
This consultation is requested by the FAO Chief Scientist Office and aims to further identify and understand the barriers and opportunities for scientists and other knowledge holders. The results will inform work on the development of guidance for strengthening science-policy interfaces as well as science- and evidence-based policy processes for agrifood systems, helping to ensure that effective policy decisions are made based upon sufficient, relevant and credible science and evidence.
CFS High Level Ministerial Event at Expo Dubai - Food Systems Transformation in Action: The CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition
Organized by CFS in collaboration with the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the FAO Regional Office for Near East and North Africa at the MENA Agri-Food Innovation Days at Expo Dubai, the high level event will:
- Raise awareness about the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition (VGFSN) and mobilize policy and political commitments by governments, donors, civil society, private sector, and others for further promotion and implementation of the VGFSN and other flagship CFS policy guidelines, especially within national food system transition pathways linked to the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit.
- Showcase UAE’s global and regional leadership on sustainable food systems including championing the utilization of CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition.
The event will take place on 24 February 2022, 12:30 - 14:00 GST / 9:30 - 11:00 CET
Register here.
Speakers:
- H.E. Gabriel Ferrero y de Loma-Osorio, Chairperson, CFS
- H.E. Mariam Al Mehairi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, United Arab Emirates
- Dr Jessica Fanzo, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Global Food and Agriculture Policy and Ethics
- Dr Maximo Torero Cullen, Chief Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
- Hon. Bwino Fred Kyakulaga, Minister of State for Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Uganda
- Ambassador Pio Wennubst, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to United Nations Organizations in Rome
- Ms Anna Scavuzzo, Deputy Mayor of Milan
- Dr AbdulHakim Elwaer, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
- Dr Martien van Nieuwkoop, Global Director Agriculture and Food Global Practice, The World Bank
- Dr Agnes Kalibata, AGRA President and former Special Envoy for the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit
For more information, visit the CFS webpage or watch the livestream on the CFS YouTube channel.

Matching grant programmes: an effective approach to channel remittances into sustainable investment in agribusiness?
The results of this consultation will feed into FAO models for supporting countries in designing and implementing better policies for harnessing the development potential of remittances in rural areas.
Digital agriculture report: Rural e-commerce development experience from China
The ‘Digital Agriculture Report: Rural E-commerce Development—Experience from China’, produced by FAO and Zhejiang University, has been officially released. The publication examines how rural e-commerce could advance the digital transformation of agri-food systems, including increasing production efficiency, expanding farmers’ market access, improving poverty alleviation, fostering agricultural entrepreneurship, and attracting young generations back to their villages for economic revival and rural revitalization.
It is highlighted that an enabling ecosystem with favourable government policies and strategies, public-private partnerships and innovative business models is of great importance to accelerate the development of rural areas in China, and generate larger economic, social and environmental impacts. As the largest developing country in the world, the experience of digital agriculture transformation in China could be shared with other developing countries.
The report also discusses some of the challenges encountered and lessons learned during the development of rural e-commerce, as well as the proposals for the way forward.
The report is available in English and can be downloaded here.
A multi-billion-dollar opportunity – Repurposing agricultural support to transform food systems
Public support mechanisms for agriculture in many cases hinder the transformation towards healthier, more sustainable, equitable, and efficient food systems, thus actively steering us away from meeting the Sustainable Development Goals and targets of the Paris Agreement. This report sets out the...

Consultation for the development of the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Gender Equality and Women’s and Girls’ Empowerment in the Context of Food Security and Nutrition
To guide progress on gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment, CFSat its 46th Session in October 2019 decided to develop Voluntary Guidelines on Gender Equality and Women’s and Girls’ Empowerment in the Context of Food Security and Nutrition. CFS now invites all actors involved in addressing food insecurity and malnutrition to provide feedback on the Zero Draft of the Guidelines.
What are your experiences in the use and application of the CFS Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI) for improving food security and nutrition?
A global thematic event (GTE) will be organized during the October 2022 Plenary Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) to share experiences and good practices in the use and application of the CFS Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI) endorsed in 2014. The CFS invites stakeholders to share their experiences and good practices in applying the CFS-RAI by 15 April 2022 to inform the GTE.
UN Decade of Action on Nutrition 2016-2025: priority actions on nutrition for the next five years
As part of the mid-term review process of the Nutrition Decade, the joint FAO/WHO Secretariat of the Nutrition Decade has reviewed progress made during the years 2016-2020 and suggests a plan forward for the period 2021-2025. The UN Nutrition Secretariat invites stakeholders and the wider public to provide insights on the proposed focus areas for priority action within each of the six Action Areas for the next five years of the Nutrition Decade.