Global food policy report 2020: Building inclusive food systems
The 2020 Global Food Policy Report (PDF) by IFPRI focuses on the need to build inclusive food systems, both to ensure that marginalized and vulnerable people enjoy the benefits and opportunities that food systems can bring and to support sustainable development. Food systems are evolving quickly to meet growing and changing demand. But many poor and marginalized people are not benefiting. Building inclusive food systems will help reduce hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and other inequities. For smallholder and rural people inadequate infrastructure and skills are limiting their development, eventhough food markets are expanding, which creates potential for job and income opportunities along the supply chains. Recommended is to invest in infrastructure, market incentives, inclusive business models and technology to give smallholders greater access. The second group is youth; the working-age population in Sub-Saharan Africa will grow tremendously. The continents rural areas and food systems will have to play a big role in absorbing young job seekers. To create an economic enviroment in which agrifood-system business can thrive and generate jobs for both young and old, broad-based growth should be fostered. Women’s lack of formal recognition and numerous obstacles prevent them from engaging on fair and equitable terms. Their control over resources and decision-making should increase and their voices strengthened. Food system transformation should not increase women’s workloads or reduce their power. Refugees and conflict-affected people count for a large part of undernourished people. Integrating them into food-systems can help them rebuild their lives. Long-term access to land and livelihoods should be provided to help refugees achieve food security, while strengthening local economies. The next steps for inclusive food systems are: 1) Integrate inclusion into the global agenda; 2) Seize opportunities; 3) Identify needs early on; 4) Recognize existing contributions. One section focuses on specific regional aspects and efforts to make food systems more inclusive. A final section illustrates trends in key food policy indicators.