Global food systems are in disarray and impose increasing pressure on our planetary habitat. In this next decade of action for sustainable development, we need to think about food systems differently – taking into account the true values and full costs involved in getting food onto consumers’ plates.
As currently organized, food systems impose massive costs on human health (due to hunger, and foods that contribute to obesity and disease) costs on the environment today (due to area expansion and soil and water degradation, and costs on our children and grandchildren (for instance due to the food systems contribution to climate change and biodiversity loss). Building resilient and sustainable African food systems will require adopting policies and making investments that minimize the damage to human health, our environment, and to future generations. The food systems can and must become climate positive, and must not contribute about 30% to green-house gas emissions – as currently. Read More