A man surrounded by vegetables and greens at his place at Indian Bazaar. A mix of colors and textures. Captured in India, Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi.
Transforming food systems and pursuing healthier diets are key to achieving food security and reducing environmental degradation
Achieving Zero Hunger is not only about feeding people, but also ensuring proper nutrition and nurturing the planet. This year, World Food Day calls for action across sectors to make healthy and sustainable diets affordable and accessible to everyone. At the same time, it calls on everyone to start thinking more carefully about what we eat.
These are among the goals of the GEF’s new Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR) Impact Program, which sets to transform food production and land use systems and reduce global environmental degradation. The Impact Program, approved by the GEF Council in June, is designed to help 18 countries across Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Pacific to increase agricultural production while protecting against deforestation, land degradation, loss of biodiversity, and greenhouse gas emissions.
In this context, and to complement the FAO’s World Food Day 2019 campaign action list, we put together a list of articles from some of the GEF’s partners that might help answer the question: how do we feed the world and keep our planet healthy?
Producing sustainable food is every company's business
By Sunny Verghese, co-founder and group chief executive of Olam International and chair of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development
What is the role of business in food security and climate change? Sunny Verghese, CEO and founder of Olam International, argues that all businesses must find their place in helping to reimagine a better global food system. Sustainable business is profitable, too; as the world’s global commons become increasingly endangered, business must continue seeing opportunities and identifying solutions and innovations. This World Food Day learn more about how we can act towards a better shared future. Read the article.
Can cities change the world through what they eat?
By Dr. Gunhild Stordalen, founder and executive chair, and Dr. Sudhvir Singh, director of policy, EAT
Nourishing people, while nurturing the planet: This year’s World Food Day calls for healthy and sustainable diets that are affordable and accessible to all. Our diets and food systems are key to ending hunger and protecting the earth--less food waste and healthier diets could save 11 million lives every year, while helping to restore crucial ecosystems. Read more from Dr. Gunhild Stordalen, Founder and Executive Chair of EAT, and Dr. Sudhvir Singh, Director of Policy, on how shifting towards healthier and more sustainable eating benefits our health, as well as the health of the world around us. Read the article.
We need a new approach to growing and consuming food
By Ajay Vir Jakhar, chairman, Bharat Krishak Samaj, India
How can we feed the future? As scientists warn of imminent challenges in food availability from climate change, public funding for agricultural research and human resources has reduced substantially. In this blog post, Ajay Vir Jakhar, Chairman of Bharat Krishak Samaj (Farmers’ Forum, India) discusses the shortcomings central to our current food system. In order to implement a new approach, we need to change the way that we think. Read the article.
Fixing the food system: how cities can truly feed the world
By Ellen MacArthur, founder and chair, Ellen MacArthur Foundation; and Martin Stuchtey, founder and managing partner, SYSTEMIQ
Within our current broken food system, for every dollar spent on food, our society must pay two in health, environmental, and economic costs. Change must start in our cities, where over half of the world’s population now live. Read on to discover how cities can transform global food systems, providing people with nutritious food, more diverse food supply chains, and incredible economic opportunities. Read the article.
Transforming the food system to feed tomorrow's world
By Fiona Dawson, global president, Mars Food, Multisales and Global Customers
The world must prepare to feed nearly 10 billion people by 2050. For this to happen, the food system must be transformed, and companies have a pivotal role to play. They can fix broken supply chains to benefit both farmers and the planet, but they can’t do it alone. Partnerships are essential to form action plans that can be scaled up. Farmers, foundations, NGOs, policymakers and businesses need to work together. Fiona Dawson, President of the Mars Food Multisales and Global Customers division, describes how her company has built partnerships to create a greener rice supply chain. Read the article.
