2024-11-12-FAO-2024年粮食及农业状况报告_171页_5mb

Summary of The State of Food and Agriculture 2024 - Value-Driven Transformation of Agrifood Systems

Core Content

The State of Food and Agriculture 2024 explores the value-driven transformation of agrifood systems, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to address hidden costs and promote sustainable, inclusive, and resilient food systems. The report highlights the importance of true cost accounting (TCA), stakeholder engagement, and policy alignment across health, agriculture, and environment sectors to achieve this transformation.

Main Themes and Key Messages

• Hidden Costs of Agrifood Systems:

  • The global hidden costs of agrifood systems exceed 10 trillion US dollars at 2020 PPP.
  • Hidden costs vary significantly across different agrifood system types, with health, environmental, and social costs being particularly high in industrial and transitioning systems.
  • Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a major consequence of hidden costs, especially in formal and industrial systems.

• Agrifood Systems Typology:

  • A new typology categorizes agrifood systems into traditional, transitioning, and industrial.
  • This typology helps identify specific challenges and interventions required for each system type.
  • Countries in protracted crisis face high environmental and social hidden costs, requiring long-term strategies in their recovery.

• True Cost Accounting (TCA):

  • TCA is a key tool for understanding the true costs of agrifood systems and identifying effective levers for change.
  • It helps quantify the hidden costs associated with health, environment, and social aspects.
  • TCA is recommended for national and subnational levels to support tailored and context-specific strategies.

• Institutional and Fiscal Capacity:

  • The capacity of institutions to address hidden costs differs across agrifood system categories.
  • Strengthening institutional and fiscal frameworks is essential for effective transformation.

• Role of Stakeholders:

  • Stakeholder engagement is critical for achieving a systems approach to transformation.
  • Involving producers, consumers, financial institutions, and policymakers ensures equitable distribution of benefits and costs.

• Consumer Influence:

  • Consumer demand for healthier and more sustainable diets is a major driver of change.
  • Dietary shifts, such as reducing sodium and processed meat consumption, are important for health and environmental outcomes.
  • Policies and initiatives that shape consumer choices and preferences can lead to more sustainable food systems.

• Policy and Investment Priorities:

  • Transforming agrifood systems requires aligning public policies with the goal of providing public goods.
  • Financing mechanisms must support both local and global transformation, including through public-private partnerships.
  • Equitable distribution of benefits and costs is essential to ensure that all stakeholders, including vulnerable groups, are included in the transformation process.

• Collaboration and Innovation:

  • Collaboration among policymakers, producers, consumers, and financial institutions is necessary for transformative change.
  • Innovations in financial mechanisms, such as the European Union Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), are being explored to support sustainable practices.
  • Businesses and investors have a crucial role in promoting sustainable and fair practices across supply chains.

Key Findings

• Hidden Costs by System Type:

  • Traditional systems face challenges like undernourishment.
  • Industrial systems are associated with high NCD risks and environmental costs.
  • Transitioning systems experience a double burden of malnutrition.

• Case Studies and Examples:

  • The report includes case studies from various countries and regions, illustrating the application of TCA and the potential for transformation.
  • Examples from India and Brazil highlight successful stakeholder engagement in TEEBAgriFood initiatives.
  • The World Banana Forum and PENNY's initiative show the potential of consumer-focused approaches.

• Policy Recommendations:

  • Governments should invest in TCA and use it to guide policy and investment decisions.
  • There is a need for policies that support healthy food environments, such as Chile's regulatory framework.
  • National and subnational assessments are vital for understanding and addressing hidden costs effectively.

Conclusion

The State of Food and Agriculture 2024 underscores the urgency of transforming agrifood systems to align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The transformation must be value-driven, equitable, and inclusive, ensuring that all stakeholders, especially vulnerable populations, benefit from the changes. The report provides a strategic roadmap for achieving these goals through comprehensive TCA, stakeholder engagement, and policy alignment.