The Food Systems Countdown Initiative report identifies governance and resilience as pivotal leverage points for food system transformation
A groundbreaking new study, “Governance and resilience as entry points for transforming food systems in the countdown to 2030”, published in Nature Food, presents the first comprehensive analysis of change in key food system indicators since 2000.
Co-authored by NRI Director, Professor Sheryl Hendriks, the study sheds light on critical trends, challenges, and opportunities in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
The peer-reviewed research was conducted by the Food Systems Countdown Initiative (FSCI), a collaboration of leading experts and organisations, coordinated by Columbia University, Cornell University, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). The resulting report tracks 50 food systems indicators across the world, organised into five themes: 1) diets, nutrition, and health; 2) environment, natural resources, and production; 3) livelihoods, poverty, and equity; 4) resilience; and 5) governance. Professor Hendriks is a core member of the group of experts monitoring the governance theme, which is the focus of this paper.
Dr Lawrence Haddad, FSCI Co-Chair and Executive Director of GAIN, said, ‘This new report reveals a mix of encouraging advancements and concerning setbacks, underscoring the urgency of accelerating food systems transformation. As this report shows, trade-offs are inevitable between food system goals such as jobs, climate, nutrition, food security and resilience. But with stronger governance and better data these trade-offs can be mitigated and even flipped into synergies.
Key Findings
- Encouraging progress in resilience and nutrition
Twenty of the 42 metrics analysed over time have improved, and notable achievements include significant increases in access to safe water and the availability of vegetables. Conservation of plant and animal genetic resources has also risen, bolstering the resilience of food systems to climate shocks and other disruptions. - Emerging concerns: Food price volatility and government accountability decline
Seven indicators show significant decline, including increased food price volatility, worsening government accountability, and decreased civil society participation. These shifts suggest challenges in maintaining stability and policy coherence amid global crises. - Interactions drive complex outcomes
The report highlights how changes in one area, such as governance or diet quality, affect other areas, emphasising the need for coordinated, cross-sectoral approaches. Case studies from Ethiopia, Mexico, and the Netherlands illustrate the local relevance of these dynamics.
A Call to Action
The report identifies governance and resilience as pivotal leverage points for food system transformation. Targeted improvements in these areas could catalyse positive changes across other indicators, amplifying global progress.
Jessica Fanzo, Professor of Climate and Director of the Food for Humanity Initiative, Columbia Climate School, said, ‘We need wholesale reform of our food systems so we can provide the world’s population with the nutritious food needed to grow and develop.
We are facing a syndemic of challenges: increasing diet related disease, continued undernutrition, and a changing climate. Combating these requires significant and rapid change. This study is so important because it shows the speed of change so far, to guide more action because we can only manage what we measure.’