Behind the narratives

Last changed: 27 March 2025
Behind the narratives

The Sustainable Agri-Food Systems Intelligence – Science-Policy Interface (SASi-SPi) initiative has recently featured a series titled "Bridging Science and Policy: Expert Narratives", presenting insights from ten experts on sustainable food systems. These narratives shed light on the complexities of transforming global food systems to be more sustainable, equitable, and resilient.

A recurring theme across the interviews is the necessity for systemic change in food production and consumption. Experts emphasize that current food systems often fail to address issues of sustainability at scale. For instance, Patrick Okori, Executive Secretary of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), notes that traditional food systems are not designed for sustainability at scale, highlighting the need for innovative approaches to meet the demands of growing populations.

Inclusivity and education

Inclusivity and education, particularly concerning women and indigenous communities, are highlighted as pivotal for driving systemic change. Thi Minh Phuong, Chief Social Policy (Social Inclusion) at UNICEF, underscores the importance of education and the inclusion of women in achieving systemic change, advocating for the recognition of local stakeholders' rights and their active participation in decision-making processes.

Traditional knowledge

The integration of traditional knowledge with modern practices emerges as a crucial factor in promoting sustainable food systems. Antonia Trichopoulou, often referred to as the "mother of the Mediterranean diet," emphasizes that traditional diets, like the Mediterranean diet, should be seen as sustainable food systems, offering valuable lessons for contemporary food production and consumption.

Policy support and collaboration are identified as essential drivers for meaningful change. Magloire Thiombiano, a PhD candidate at Thomas SANKARA University in Burkina Faso, points out that government policies, collaboration, and innovation are needed for a change to take place in the food system, stressing the role of policy in facilitating sustainable practices.

Youth engagement

The engagement of youth and the creation of attractive opportunities within the agri-food sector are also discussed. In Bhutan, efforts are underway to make the agri-food system more appealing to youth in a constrained environment, aiming to address challenges related to youth unemployment and migration.

In conclusion, the expert narratives collectively advocate for a holistic and inclusive approach to transforming food systems. Key recommendations include:

  • Embracing traditional knowledge alongside modern innovations to enhance sustainability.
  • Implementing supportive policies that encourage collaboration and inclusivity.
  • Fostering capacity development and engagement among all stakeholders, especially women and youth.

By addressing these areas, there is potential to create food systems that are not only sustainable but also equitable and resilient, capable of meeting the challenges of the future.

These interviews were conducted by WS4 national consultants of SASi-SPi (Rodrigo Luna, Tashi Yangzom and Sheikh Janneh), serving as a learning experience for them to begin collecting "stories of change" which can contribute to shaping new narratives around food systems transformation.

This initiative was a communication for development activity: strengthening the consultants' capacity through their involvement on communicating themselves for the project activities. Through this process, they not only developed practical skills in conducting interviews and storytelling but also deepened their understanding of the dynamics of food system transformation.

By engaging directly with experts and key stakeholders, they built their confidence and analytical capacity, equipping them to play a more effective role in ongoing research and advocacy efforts at country level. This initiative fostered a participatory approach for supporting food systems transformation, encouraging knowledge-sharing among experts and reinforcing the importance of contextualized, community-driven solutions in policy discussions.

 

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