In April, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) published the 2021 Global food policy report: Transforming food systems after COVID-19. In this report, food policy experts provide data-based evidence and policy recommendations for healthy, resilient, efficient, sustainable, and inclusive food system transformation by examining the impact of the pandemic and policy responses, particularly on the poor and vulnerable.

The report noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on food systems locally, nationally, and globally, and has put the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) further out of reach. However, we may make good use of the lessons learned from the global response to the pandemic in terms of how to transform the food system to reduce the impact of the pandemic and to better prepare for future shocks.
The report recommends that three things are needed to make the food system more resilient: control the frequency and magnitude of shocks, invest in early warning systems to anticipate shocks, and build the capacity to absorb shocks. The report also summarizes the impacts by region. The full report is available here.

The year 2021 is a very important year for the world to work together for change, as it will host the global summits on food systems, climate, and nutrition; namely the UN Food Systems Summit, the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), and the Tokyo Nutrition for Growth Summit (N4G). This is a valuable opportunity to advance the transformation of the food system, which is an urgent and important issue.
 

Reference
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). 2021. 2021 Global food policy report: Transforming food systems after COVID-19. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://doi.org/10.2499/9780896293991

Contributor: SHIRATORI Sakiko (Information and Public Relations Office)