Shaping the future of global food systems: A scenarios analysis

This report (PDF) from the World Economic Forum and Deloitte presents four scenarios for the future of global food systems. These possible futures of global food systems broaden perspectives about alternative future environments. The report aims to challenge global leaders to think in new ways about the future and to motivate action on key issues that will shape the global food systems. The key question is: How will food systems nutritiously and sustainable feed 8.5 billion people in 2030? Two of the key uncertainties in this time span are the possible demand shift (will demand be more resource-intensive or resource-efficient?) and market connectivity (will there be high or low market connectivity?). The four potential future scenarios are: Survival of the richest (resource-intensive and low market connectivity). Unchecked consumption (resource-intensive and high connectivity), Open-source sustainability (resource-efficiency and high connectivity), and Local is the new global (resource-efficiency and low connectivity). The scenarios are all possible in the near future and decisions today will determine which will become a reality. Several opportunities and strategies for international leaders are: investing in health and nutrition; increasing resource efficiency of business operations and technology; investing in smart policies needed to redesign the food system, especially linking food, agriculture, and environmental policies to healthy diets; and ensuring social and ecological priorities are central.

This report will be presented at WEF Annual meeting in Davos, 17-20 January 2017.