Actions to Transform Food Systems Report Comes in the Nick of Time

The Lempert Report
August 26, 2020

While overall the report offers a report card ranking for the global food system as “grave concern”, it also offers a plan to rebuild all types of food production across the globe.

From small farms to large-scale production homes that have been affected by the pandemic but will face even greater challenges from climate change. David Nabarro a World Health Organization special envoy for covid 19 and curator of the food systems dialog says quote “it’s time for all of us to get talking about food and most importantly about food systems all the different elements from food production to processing for marketing and consumption and all the steps across the way”.

The report lays out an 11 part plan including efforts to sustainably increase food production in developing countries in ways that increase his income and food security in poor agriculture dependent world communities according to the report. Those could dramatically reduce the need for human humanitarian assistance in the coming years freeing up billions of dollars for investing and social safety nets.

The report also lays out a policy framework for directing $320 billion in public and private finance to food systems transformation. it also seeks more support for youth center social movements that are committed to building sustainable food systems. While there are concerns the pandemic could significantly increase hunger and malnutrition in the short-term, this report points to even greater dangers in the coming decade as temperatures rise and weather extremes become more common and rainfall less predictable. It cites recent research that notes that by 2050 climate change could displace 200 million people and that droughts, floods and heat waves will become more frequent and intense.

We must start listening to science and make changes now.