FAO publishes new research on how countries are putting systems approaches into practice

A new open-access article has recently been published in Royal Society’s Philosophical Transactions, co-authored by FAO colleagues of the Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division. The paper, International experiences of systems approaches: re-thinking policies and governance to transform agrifood systems, explores how countries are shifting away from siloed interventions and short-term thinking to embrace more systemic, inclusive and long-term strategies for agrifood systems transformation. 

Drawing on experiences from Morocco, Albania, Costa Rica, the Pacific Islands and Rwanda, the article illustrates how governments and stakeholders are putting systems approaches into practice. Examples range from Morocco’s creation of a national food systems governance committee to align actions across sectors, to Albania’s use of agritourism as a catalyst for multiple objectives towards a long-term vision for rural revitalization, Costa Rica’s long-term portfolio approach in the coffee sector as enabler to manage the trade-off between productivity and environmental welfare, the Pacific’s innovative partnerships linking science, media and consumer engagement to deliver healthy diets for all, and Rwanda’s integration of systems thinking and learning into national planning and agricultural transformation strategies. 

“Agrifood systems transformation is a gradual process, built on both tangible outputs (such as shifts in policies, governance bodies and investment portfolios) and intangible changes (such as shifts in relationships, mindsets and agency),” explains Laura De Matteis, lead author. “Together, these elements are essential to achieve agrifood systems that deliver better outcomes for people, nature and the economy,” she concludes.  

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