FOOD systems are facing the triple challenge of providing food security and nutrition for a growing population, supporting the livelihoods of farmers and others in the food supply chains around the world, all while improving environmental sustainability, said the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Roughly valued at USD 10 trillion, the complex web of people and processes from rural water use to global values chains, ensure food from a farmer in one corner of the world makes its way to a plate in another.

"Development of a new "food systems approach" capable of simultaneously making progress on the three dimensions of food security and nutrition, livelihoods and environmental sustainability, will require better coordination between policy makers in a range of sectors, including agriculture, fisheries, environment and public health," states the new OECD report ‘Making Better Policies for Food Systems.'

A new approach will require policymakers to take a holistic view on food system objectives, in effect forcing them to place a greater emphasis on the possible effects of farm policies on nutritional and environmental outcomes which could in turn change consumer or enterprise behaviour.

The organisation in its policy review recommends harnessing climate-smart agriculture, using digital tools to boost efficiency and transparency, transforming diets and promoting consumer awareness, as some tools.

"A food systems-based approach recognises the complexity of potential synergies and trade-offs between food security and nutrition, livelihoods and environmental sustainability," it said.

Rising demand for some food products may benefit producers in poor countries while simultaneously bringing negative environmental consequences. Changes in food prices may benefit producers while harming poorer consumers. Conditions vary enormously between smallholder farmers in developing countries, those doing extensive grazing-based farming and high-tech farmers in advanced economies.

The OECD also highlighted the need to reform agricultural and fisheries support policies that are the "most distorting and which create negative environmental effects."

The centrality of food systems for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has led the United Nations to convene a Food Systems Summit in September, 2021.