31 March 2016: The ‘2016 Global Food Policy Report: How we Feed the World is Unsustainable’ of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) analyzes food policy developments in 2015, assesses challenges and opportunities for the coming year, and investigates the role of food systems in achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The report’s overview of major food related events and food policy developments in 2015 highlights major weaknesses of the global food system, including persistent hunger, widespread malnutrition, food waste and the impacts of agricultural practices on the environment. Noting that the current food system is unsustainable, the report outlines challenges and opportunities for coming years, focusing on how food systems can contribute to achieving the SDGs.

The potential contributions and challenges are evaluated in a series of chapters on: reshaping the global food system for sustainable development; the role of smallholder farmers in climate change adaptation; food loss and food waste; water, nutrition and health; land and soil management; nutrition and sustainability; green energy and food security; shifting diets; and regional developments. Each chapter showcases key policies and interventions needed to address challenges and enhance contributions towards specific SDGs.

Based on these discussions, the report concludes that a food system contributing to SDG implementation should be inclusive, climate smart, sustainable, efficient, nutrition and health-driven, and business friendly. Among others things, such a food system would contribute to the achievement of the following SDGs: SDG 2 (end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture); SDG 5 (achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls); SDG 6 (ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all); SDG 13 (take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts); and SDG 15 (protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss).

The publication also contains a summary of major indicators that track changes in food policies over time. IFPRI is a member of the CGIAR Consortium. [IFPRI Press Release] [Publication: 2016 Global Food Policy Report: How We Feed the World is Unsustainable] [Webcast of Launch Event] [Map and Data Widget]