As of early May 2020, the importance of the food system is highlighted as concerns about food security are increasing under the lockdowns to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. What does the food system mean in the first place? In 2019, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), French Center for International Development Studies (CIRAD), and the European Commission published a report entitled “Food Systems at Risk: New Trends and challenges” based on the discussion held at the Food and Agriculture in Crisis event in April 2019. The report recognizes the need to build a framework for analyzing potential factors driving food crises that Low-Income (LI) and Lower Middle-Income (LMI) countries can face in the coming decades. 

The report also highlights the key factors transforming the food system in low- and middle-income countries, namely, demographics, biophysical and environmental, innovation and technology, technology and infrastructure, sociocultural, economic, and political, which could be helpful in constructing a robust food system at the time of COVID-19. 

The report consists of the following sections:

1. Conceptual framework

2. Food systems contribute to and are impacted by climate change

3. Environmental integrity

4. Inclusive development

5. Food security and nutrition

References

Dury, S., Bendjebbar, P., Hainzelin, E., Giordano, T. and Bricas, N., eds. 2019. Food Systems at risk: new trends and challenges. Rome, Montpellier, Brussels, FAO, CIRAD and European Commission.

FAO. 2018. Sustainable food systems. Concept and framework. Rome. 8 pp

ILOSTAT, 2019. Employment by sector. January 2019　

Pothukuchi, K. & Kaufman, J.L. 2000. The food system: a stranger to the planning field. Journal of the American Planning Association, 66(2), 113–124

Contributor: IIYAMA Miyuki (Research Strategy Office)