Reforming food systems is feasible, but highly complex due to the multitude of stakeholders involved, said Johan Swinnen, director general of the International Food Policy Research Institute, on Tuesday.
Speaking at the concluding session of the Annual BIDS Conference on Development 2024, organised by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, Swinnen emphasised the necessity of inclusive collaboration to drive meaningful change.
鈥楾here are far more actors involved than we often recognise within the conventional consumer, producer, and taxpayer model,鈥� said Swinnen, who is also the managing director of system transformations at CGIAR.
鈥楾his complexity necessitates innovative coalitions to achieve effective transformations.鈥�
Swinnen outlined several key aspects of food system reforms during his presentation titled 鈥楾he Political Economy of Food System Transformation鈥�, including search for non-traditional coalitions, saying that coalitions in food system reforms were often more complex than assumed.
鈥業t is crucial to identify the diverse roles of producers and consumers within value chains,鈥� he outlined.
He also noted bundling innovations and strategies as one of the key issues for food system transformation.
鈥業ntegrating multiple innovations and strategies is essential, not only for economic viability but also to address political concerns,鈥� his presentation added.
He added that the inherent challenges of food system reforms involved economic and political trade-offs, further complicated by uncertainty due to the complexity of issues.
Moreover, the economist said external shocks sometimes triggered reforms.
The expert stressed that navigating these challenges requires coordinated efforts across sectors to foster innovation and adapt to changing global dynamics.
The conference provided a platform for experts, policymakers and academics to explore pathways toward sustainable development.
The discussion highlighted the intricate challenges of food system reforms, underscoring the need for diverse partnerships across sectors to address the multifaceted issues.
