Tackling food crisis can boost jobs, health and nature: report -Xinhua

Nayef Saymoua, a 62-year-old farmer, smells ears of wheat in a wheat field in Syria’s southern province of Sweida, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

The report, written in collaboration with Bain & Company, presents “repeatable models” from seven “early mover” countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe, whose performance have been comparatively strong and whose examples and lessons are considered widely relevant.

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) — Countries that tackle the food crisis can boost jobs, health and nature and meet net-zero goals, a new report released at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting on Monday has revealed.

The report titled “Food, Nature and Health Transitions — Repeatable Country Models” shows how “early mover” countries can accelerate the “transition towards food systems that deliver a stronger economy, better livelihoods for a more inclusive set of people, greater nutritional security and improved health, while causing a lower impact on the climate and nature.”

“Transforming food systems provide healthy and nutritious diets and dignified jobs for farmers and producers. This report shows how economic development with environment protection supports communities in climate adaption and mitigation efforts,” Gim Huay Neo, managing director of the WEF’s Centre for Nature and Climate, said in a statement accompanying the report.

Photo taken on May 22, 2022 shows a grain shop at a local market in Khartoum, Sudan. (Photo by Mohamed Khidir/Xinhua)

The report, written in collaboration with Bain & Company, presents “repeatable models” from seven “early mover” countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe, whose performance have been comparatively strong and whose examples and lessons are considered widely relevant.

Their stories of transformation identify common, repeatable elements, including the most critical actions and investments for driving change and how they should be coordinated.

“Depending on the country context, different pathways could be adopted to transform our agrifood systems for improved food security and nutrition and assuring sustainability,” Maximo Torero Cullen, chief economist at the  Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations, commented.

“Scaling up climate resilience and strengthening our food environment to promote healthy diets are two key interventions with positive impacts on food security, nature and health,” he added.

A woman fetches water from a waterpoint at Baidoa internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in South West State of Somalia, Oct. 31, 2022. (Photo by Hassan Bashi/Xinhua)

“When food fails, everything fails,” said Geraldine Matchett, co-chief executive officer (CEO) and chief financial officer (CFO) of Royal DSM, and co-chair of the CEO Alliance on Food, Nature and Health, “We must work to transform our food systems to be resilient, sustainable and healthy.”

Several countries, including Ghana, India and Vietnam, have been able to evolve their food systems to improve a broader set of outcomes by unlocking the potential of small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly those that are farmer-allied and operating in local food chains.

Farmers are more likely to adopt new practices if the economics work in their favor, according to the report, but making this happen requires actions from many stakeholders.

This photo taken on Jan. 15, 2023 shows the logo of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. The World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2023 is scheduled to kick off in Davos on Jan. 16. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)■