Food systems transformation

• The UN Food Systems Summit called for action by governments in five areas: 
  • Nourish all people; 
  • Boost nature-based solutions; 
  • Advance equitable livelihoods,decent work and empowered communities; 
  • Build resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stresses; and 
  • Accelerate the means of implementation. 
• Aim is to spur national and regional action to deliver the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through transforming food systems.
• Such a transformation in the Indian context would involve enhancing interfaces between the spheres of science, society and policy, focusing on sustainability, resource efficiency and circularity.

Challenges with current food system

1. India has about a quarter of the world’s food insecure people although self-sufficient in food grain production.
2. Nutrition indicators have marginally improved over the years. As per the recently released fifth National Family Health Survey (2019-2021) 
   1. Macro- and micronutrient malnutrition is widespread
   2. Nearly 18% of women and 16% of men unable to access enough food to meet basic nutritional needs
   3. Over 32% of children below five years old are still underweight phase 2 compendium.
3. India is ranked 101 out of 116 countries in the Global Hunger Index, 2021.
4. Declining land productivity, land degradation and loss of ecological services with change in land use.

What has to be done to overcome the challenges?

1. The approach of ‘agriculture’ serving ‘food security’ needs must give way to ‘food systems’ for ‘sustainability’ and ‘better nutrition’.
2. Science and policy measures should go hand in hand to address the challenges. For instance, 
   1. India’s Green Revolution in the 1960s, enabling food security and addressing widespread hunger and poverty was a successful combination of science and policy measures.
      1. Science– adoption of High yield variety seeds
      2. Policy measures– Development of institutional structures.
   2. The Training & Visit (T&V) system introduced in the 1970s with World Bank assistance was key to the science-society interface as it established a cadre of agriculture extension specialists at the local level.
3. An agro-climatic approach to agricultural development is important for sustainability and better nutrition. 
4. Harnessing the spatial diversity of agricultural production systems adopting the principles of sustainability, resource efficiency and circularity could correct the limitations of the green revolution.
5. Meticulous review of agro-climatic zones could make smallholders farming a profitable business, enhancing agricultural efficiency and socio-economic development, as well as sustainability.
6. India should tap its enormous potential for crop diversification and enhanced crop productivity based on soil type, climate (temperature and rainfall), and captive water resources. 
7. Prioritise research and investments in strengthening and shortening food supply chains, reinforcing regional food systems, food processing, agricultural resilience.
8. Improve farmers’ competitiveness, supporting business growth in the rural economy, and incentivising farmers to improve the environment.
9. Infrastructure and institutions supporting producers, agri-preneurs and agri micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) should be aligned to the national and State policy priorities such as the National Policy guidelines 2012 of the Ministry of Agriculture for the promotion of farmer producer organisations, and the National Resource Efficiency Policy of 2019 of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 
   1. It would encourage a resource efficient and circular economy for production, processing and storage techniques of food products through renewable energy solutions, reduction of supply chains and inputs (materials, water, and energy). 
   2. It would also ensure the efficient use of by-products, thereby creating value while using fewer inputs and generating less waste for long term and large-scale impact.

Conclusion 

• An effective interface between science, society and policy encompassing the range of actors and institutions in the food value-chain and a multidisciplinary and holistic approach, along with a greater emphasis on policy design, management and behavioural change is the need of the hour. 

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/ploughing-a-new-channel-for-indias-food-systems/article65082360.ece