The first Programmefood and nutrition security, impact, resilience, sustainability and transformation: Review and future directions

Abstract

The FIRST Program – Food and Nutrition Security Impact, Resilience, Sustainability and Transformation, is a partnership between the European Union and FAO. The EU and FAO launched a stocktaking exercise to assess progress in improving food security and nutrition in 24 FIRST priority countries. This paper presents the results of a quantitative analyses, literature review, country reports and a May 2019 consensus workshop that were the basis of identifying issues that must be addressed for FIRST countries going forward. Seven thematic areas were emphasized as essential for meeting the targets in SDG2 – zero hunger. These factors include reinventing agriculture; unleashing the private sector; gender equity; decentralization of programs; multi sector concepts within a sector approach; prioritization; data, and political process and governance.

Transforming Food Systems: The Missing Pieces Needed to Make Them Work

“…For example, encouragement of an increased production of a variety of crops, although admirable, flies in the face of smallholder realities. Research on household decision making shows that smallholders put a premium on producing basic staples to ensure food security, over and above the cultivation of nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables ( 13 ). The case of Myanmar illustrates this further.…”

“…The case of Myanmar illustrates this further. The government has historically pursued what is termed a “Rice Bowl Policy,” stressing an inordinate emphasis on rice production ( 13 ); here again, this has been a major challenge in encouraging a more diversified agricultural production in Myanmar.…”

“…Figure 2 also identifies “Define principles of engagement between public and private sectors.” Here again, this goal is admirable, but thus far has been elusive to achieve in many countries. A summary of the challenges to advancing public-private sector collaborations within 24 low- and middle-income countries include: lack of trust, absence of demonstrated models for reaching SDG2, vested interests, and corruption, to name a few ( 13 ). This is not to suggest that public-private sector initiatives are unimportant but rather methods to achieve this collaboration have not been effectively developed and/or tested.…”

“…A key element of all food systems falls under the rubric of agriculture: food and nonfood product production, distribution, marketing of commodities, and livestock. The litmus test for successful agriculture is changing dramatically; agricultural policies will be judged against a much more complicated set of factors ( 13 ). The agriculture sector will be expected to increase output (quantity and quality) on the same amount of land and to do so in an environmentally sensitive manner.…”

“…Climate is changing at an alarming rate. Climate change is a threat to agriculture and livelihoods, with wide-ranging current and future impacts including reduced agricultural productivity, increased frequency of natural disasters, and higher variability of water availability ( 13 ). Lack of research related to some critical questions precludes making significant progress in mitigating the effects of climate change.…”