Global drivers of food system (un)sustainability: A multi-country correlation analysis

Abstract

At present, our ability to comprehend the dynamics of food systems and the consequences of their rapid 'transformations' is limited. In this paper, we propose to address this gap by exploring the interactions between the sustainability of food systems and a set of key drivers at the global scale. For this we compile a metric of 12 key drivers of food system from a globally-representative set of low, middle, and high-income countries and analyze the relationships between these drivers and a composite index that integrates the four key dimensions of food system sustainability, namely: food security & nutrition, environment, social, and economic dimensions. The two metrics highlight the important data gap that characterizes national systems' statistics-in particular in relation to transformation, transport, retail and distribution. Spearman correlations and Principal Component Analysis are then used to explore associations between levels of sustainability and drivers. With the exception of one economic driver (trade flows in merchandise and services), the majority of the statistically significant correlations found between food system sustainability and drivers appear to be negative. The fact that most of these negative drivers are closely related to the global demographic transition that is currently affecting the world population highlights the magnitude of the challenges ahead. This analysis is the first one that provides quantitative evidence at the global scale about correlations between the four dimensions of sustainability of our food systems and specific drivers.

Food Security and the Dynamics of Wheat and Maize Value Chains in Africa and Asia

“…Drivers which transform food systems have been analyzed (see for example Béné et al, 2019Béné et al, , 2020. We use their framework and apply it to cereal, especially maize and wheat, value chains (Table 1).…”

“…First, few papers focus on the dynamics of the wheat and maize value chains which allows to draw a much more detailed picture of the research needs and policy recommendations. Second, the focus on Africa and Asia is interesting because the two continents follow very Béné et al (2019Béné et al ( , 2020.…”

Policy framing and crisis narratives around food safety in Vietnam

“…In so doing, the analysis revealed the highly contested but also cross-sectoral and interdependent nature of the policy process. Food system policy analysis will need to recognize and embrace this socially-constructed, integrated and dynamic process and be based on a more appropriate conceptualization of the process, one that not only acknowledges food systems themselves as complex and heterogeneous entities replete with linear and non-linear feedbacks (Ericksen, 2008;Béné et al, 2019aBéné et al, , 2020, but one that is also capable of accounting for, and integrating, this multi-causality of food systems agendas resulting from the interplay of influences and politics amongst different groups of actors and decision-makers (Béné et al 2019b). Notes:…”

The Organic Mindset: Insights from a Mixed Methods Grounded Theory (MM-GT) Study into Organic Food Systems

“…There is much debate about food system drivers from a systemic perspective that speaks to the collective outcome areas such as trade expansion, digital connectivity, population growth and climate change [8], yet little discourse exists regarding driving forces from actor-centric levels within transformative milieus such as OFS. The term driver in a food system context still has somewhat of an elusive quality, which warrants a more differentiated look at the qualities of driving forces at play.…”