The future of nutrition: FAO COP28 roadmap unveils key strategies to end global hunger

12 Dec 2023 --- The new Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) roadmap unveiled at the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), offers a comprehensive guideline for stakeholders across the agrifood spectrum to achieve just transition for improved efficiencies, reduced environmental impact and a global rebalancing of resources.

“The report is starting with the urgency of our current situation,” the FAO Agrifood Economics Division director and technical lead of the FAO Sustainable Development Goal 2 and 1.5 Roadmap, tells Nutrition Insight.

“We also acknowledge that, among other elements, inaction was fueled by the existence of silos and division among actors. The goal is to bring everyone around the table and, through a just transition approach, make sure that no one is left behind, both in terms of processes and outcomes. Farmers, processing companies, consumers, input providers, policymakers: we are all part of the solution, but that also means that we all have to make compromises, but not on our objectives: good food for all, today and tomorrow.”

 The roadmap’s goal is to bring everyone around the table and to make sure that no one is left behind.Immediate action is needed
The roadmap highlights several pivotal domains for immediate action. Laborde explains that “the actions needed to address the dual challenges of food security and nutrition, and climate are quite various and could be organized in very different ways.”

“In practice, each user, with their own lens, could have their own logic: What actions are the most relevant if I am a farmer? What are the most efficient actions to reduce methane if I am focusing on the methane pledge? In the report, we decided to use ten very pragmatic domains associated with specific sectoral activities involving well-defined stakeholders (from producers to dedicated ministries) and two core enablers: data and inclusive policies.”

He explains that the action list in itself is based on the extensive work done by FAO over the years, both at the sectoral level and in flagship publications like the State of Food Security and Nutrition, the State of Food and Agriculture, the State of Fisheries and Aquaculture), as well as more than 180 publications, both in peer review journals, and non-FAO flagship reports.

Country action plans
By COP30, the focus will shift to “Country Action Plans.” FAO plans to collaborate with countries to develop and monitor these plans to ensure accountability.

“FAO has long experience working with countries, from building technical projects on the ground to helping shape policy reform. For instance, the FAO Hand-In-Hand initiative provides integrated analyses that identify key interactions, synergies, and trade-offs among actions to accelerate economic growth, ensure social inclusion, promote sustainable use of biodiversity and natural resources, and bring together public and private investors to fund these projects.” 

Laborde argues that following the roadmap and engaging with regions and countries will help adapt the global vision to their local priorities, needs, and opportunities through a number of activities.

“All of this will be supported by various efforts scaled up as COP28, like the Sharm-El Sheikh Support Programme, a three-year support package to help countries unlock finance and support for farmers, food producers, small agribusinesses and local communities, and other technical assistance.”

During the COP28 Health Day last week, experts highlighted the interconnectedness of health, nutrition and climate change, calling for governments to make further commitments to addressing the impacts of climate change on the availability of adequate nutrition. 

Economic growth, social inclusion and sustainable use of biodiversity are to be achieved through “Country Action Plans.” Healthy diet as a human right
The FAO roadmap calls for the accessibility of a diet conducive to well-being for every person by 2050, but it also identifies notable challenges in making this a reality. 

“The FAO proposes an integrated approach because not only one situation will work. The set of actions described in the report is essential to enable all to achieve healthy diets ( those that meet the four universal principles) while respecting the contextual dietary patterns.”

 The four principles highlighted by Laborde include: capability, “individuals possess the necessary physical ability, stamina, skills and knowledge”; motivation, ”the desire to change diets influences both reflective and automatic decision-making related to food choice”; opportunity, “the resources, environment, time, social structures, norms, interpersonal influences and social cues,” and “the food needed to make changes are available at prices affordable to all consumers.”

“On the ground, it means updated food-based dietary guidelines at the country and regional level, providing more information to consumers through education and labeling, nudging them in the right direction by creating new consumption opportunities, using food and beverage tax and subsidies aligned with the guidelines.”

Agri-food innovation and adaptation
The roadmap highlights the role of agri-food systems in mitigating global warming. Elaborating on the specific adaptations and innovations that FAO recommends for achieving increased productivity with reduced resource consumption, especially in low- and middle-income countries, Laborde states, “the FAO recognizes that a wide set of solutions, based on innovations, but also existing and traditional knowledge.”

“They can focus on improving the genetics of animals, crops, trees and fishes. Overall, the adoption of climate-smart and regenerative practices could contribute greatly to the overall agenda.”

The roadmap highlights the role of agri-food systems in mitigating global warming.He explains that in some places, this also means adopting drip irrigation to save water and energy. “In other (or the same), it is about doing no-till agriculture to protect soils. Providing better feed to livestock, that can include seaweed, could increase the productivity of the animals but also reduce their emissions, in particular methane.”

Laborde further emphasizes that all these solutions have to be contextualized, “this is why the FAO is not coming with a top ten, or the like, of specific technologies to be applied across all sectors.”

Another recent FAO report, released in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the UN Economic Commission for Africa and the World Food Programme, highlighted the concerning food security and nutrition data for Africa, emphasizing the need for private sector solutions and agribusiness investments on the continent.

The transformation of diets and the reduction of food loss and waste could lead to reduced demand, but these could also create some consumption opportunities. 

“There is a need to invest in productivity in low-income countries, but also strong social protection programs, considering the nutrition and climate vulnerability dimension, to transfer income in the places with deficiencies,” Laborde continues.

He argues that improving efficiencies in such places requires more investment in extension services for farmers, adapting technologies to their local needs. At the same time, the role of inclusive education and social protection are essential. He asserts that when designing solutions, tackling gender inequalities is primordial. 

“It is an absolute need to both increase the efficiency of the system and its fairness. The specific challenges of youth and the Indigenous Peoples have to be integrated into the solution design and implementation at the local level,” Laborde concludes.

By Milana Nikolova