Reimagining how we feed the world
The same food systems that humanity depends on, are pushing us beyond the Earth’s planetary boundaries1, generating considerable health, environmental, and socio-economic challenges.
Food lies at the heart of our sustainability agenda, connecting everything we do. Our purpose is clear: to make food safe and available everywhere, while protecting food, people, and the planet. By collaborating across the value chain to reshape how food is grown, produced, processed, packaged, distributed, and consumed, we can build more secure, resilient, and sustainable food systems2.
As countries prepare to submit their updated Nationally Determined Contributions3 (NDCs 3.0.) in early 2025, we are joining the climate and food systems community in urging for ambitious and investable plans that will help achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Unlocking the ‘hidden middle’
Global food systems are at a tipping point, facing the challenges of food security and climate goals. Although food systems contribute over 30% of global GHG emissions4, they only receive 4%5 of climate finance. The ‘hidden middle’ of food systems includes parts of the value chain, such as food manufacturing, logistics, storage, packaging, and handling. Despite contributing up to 40% of the economic value added in food value chains, these are often overlooked. Addressing this 'hidden middle' can transform raw materials into consumable food, drive economic stability and enable farmers to invest in sustainable practices.
We urge all governments to prioritise these transformations by implementing enabling policies and financial incentives across the agri-food value chain, including the 'hidden middle'. Integrating food systems policies into updated Nationally Determined Contributions3 (NDCs 3.0) can incentivise sustainable production, improve food security, and reduce resource use.
Transforming food systems for a sustainable future
Global action on meeting the Paris Agreement is currently falling short. Focusing on the ‘hidden middle’ of agri-food chains could effect significant change.
Learn how harnessing this often-neglected set of activities can address food security and climate challenges.
References
1Planetary boundaries is a framework to describe the limits within which humanity can continue to develop and thrive Rockström, Johan; Steffen, Will; Noone, Kevin; Persson, Åsa; Chapin, F. Stuart; Lambin, Eric F.; Lenton, Timothy M.; Scheffer, Marten; Folke, Carl; Schellnhuber, Hans Joachim; Nykvist, Björn (2009). “A safe operating space for humanity”. Nature. 461 (7263): 472–475.
2Sustainable food systems mean growing, producing, processing, packaging, distributing and consuming food without negatively impacting the planet. Retrieved from OECD. (2019). Accelerating Climate Action.
3This refers to the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) of the signatories to the Paris Agreement, which are central to the achievement of the agreement’s long-term goals. To learn more, see: https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/nationally-determined-contributions-ndcs
4Food systems are responsible for 34% of global anthropogenic GHG emissions. (2021), Crippa, M. et al. Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-021-00225-9
5New study reveals vast and critical climate finance gap for global agrifood systems - CPI (climatepolicyinitiative.org)