Food Systems

Wyss Academy Declaration on Food Systems

The Wyss Academy for Nature has issued a Declaration on Food Systems as official feedback to the 2021 United Nations Food Systems Summit. The declaration is the result of the very first Wyss Academy Dialogues with Purpose, a series of workshops in which participants from four regions (Central Europe, East Africa, South-East Asia and South-America) discussed region-specific challenges with a wide range of global stakeholders, representing the areas of science, policy, civil society and the private sector.

The Wyss Academy Declaration on Food Systems calls for a fundamental transformation of economic, social, and financial systems, in order to harmonize food systems and nature conservation and foster just relations between people and nature. Despite significant differences in perspective, three opportunities for harmonizing food systems with nature conservation, climate protection, and human wellbeing were identified as relevant across all regions: promoting opportunities for youth within the agri-food system, realizing nature-positive and just food production, and bridging the disconnect between consumers and producers in order to achieve fairer food supply chains. The declaration proposes several principles and entry points as a foundation for its call to action.

Read the full declaration

DISCUSSIONS & REFLECTIONS

On Food Systems

In all of our Hub regions (LatAm, Europe, East Africa and SEA), the younger generation is less and less interested in pursuing a profession in agriculture. That's why it is important for the Wyss Academy For Nature to play a role in changing the perspective on the agriculture sector in terms of job opportunities for young people. The right governance structures with the righ incentives need to be put in place together with communicating those convincingly to the next generation of agricultural professionals.

Let's rethink the food system. How do we move from an agriculture policy to a food and nutrition policy?
To affect change, the entire food system needs to be looked at. This includes farmers, consumers, producers, researchers and many more, who are all linked together as elements within a complex food system. To navigate this complexity, developing innovation from the bottom-up and connecting stakeholders with land-use systems will be key. There is a clear need for knowledge of local institutions and local governments, for the application of local technologies as well as the inclusion of local groups. We must also build capacities for advocacy and policy engagement among stakeholders. On a policy level, pricing must incorporate externalities from environmental and social impacts caused in the value chain.

We need your help: How do we get non-timber forest products (NTFP) out of the niche?
Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) - such as mushrooms, berries, syrup or cork - can offer multiple benefits for communities involved in their harvesting or trade. Yet, they have difficulties in competing on the market, due to comparatively low volumes, seasonal availability, irregular supply and variations in quality. Joining forces in cooperatives can support people involved, such as ensuring a constant and sufficient supply and creating economies of scale. Cooperatives can also process and market the manufactured products (that have a longer shelf life and thus permit a more continuous supply), thus eliminating some of the intermediaries who in general take a large share of the final market value of the product.

How can we bridge the disconnect between producers and consumers? How can we address the current injustice in the food chain, where most of the profits go to intermediaries?
Overcoming the trade-off between the provision of nutritious food at affordable prices, while producing environmentally and socially sustainable food at higher costs was perceived as a challenge across our Hub regions of Latin America, Europe, East Africa and South East Asia during our first Wyss Academy Cross-Regional Dialogue on May 25th.
Consumer preferences might often be in conflict with sustainability goals. But are they the cause or victims of a failed food system? Consumers cannot be the sole driver for positive transformation, as education and awareness alone do not necessarily lead to behavioral change. Awareness is a first step, but transformation requires the engagement of a wide range of actors.

Did you know that pastoralism - extensive livestock farming on rangelands - is practised in 75 per cent of the world’s countries, by an estimated 500 million people? It encompasses nomadic communities, seasonal herders and mixed forms of farming (UN source). Pastoralism is part of our cultural heritage - and is important to many economies and societies around the world.

Yet, how do we meet the triple challenge of increasing global demand for livestock products, the ongoing degradation of rangeland ecosystems in dryland areas, and environmental degradation caused by intensive production? In order to effectively address such a challenge, we at the Wyss Academy for Nature, strongly promote the inclusion of all relevant stakeholders as well as addressing several leverage points within a system. This is the way forward to affect systemic change.

Have you heard of land sparing? It means making farmed landscapes as beneficial to wild species as possible, by practicing higher-yield agriculture that requires a smaller area. How about combining this concept with urban agriculture?!

Increasing the share of agriculture performed in urban areas can have the potential of reducing the demand on rural land to produce food. This gain could potentially be amplified by making a larger non-agricultural area available to wildlife (land sparing), or by expanding the use of a land-sharing form of agriculture, where farming activity is limited so that it can co-exist with local species. (Peri)-urban farming could have the potential of complementing the overall range of solutions available to achieve a better balance between food production (even food sovereignty), conservation and environmental justice.

How can multi-functionality in agricultural production, the idea that agriculture has many functions in addition to producing food and fibre, e.g. environmental protection, rural employment, food security, etc., be realised, safeguarding biodiversity?
Soil is perhaps one of the most affected and important dimensions when talking about agricultural landscapes and biodiversity. After being ignored for many decades, soil biodiversity is recently recognised but still considered in a utilitarian way, due to its many key functions in agricultural production. Therefore, maintaining and restoring healthy soils with their associated biodiversity should be a priority from a multifunctional landscape perspective at the farm plot level. What are your priorities in multi-functionality in agricultural production?

Humankind will face a triple challenge over the next 30 years: how to feed ten billion people, how to keep the global temperature increase below 1.5 °C, and how to reverse the loss of biodiversity. Tackling those challenges will require an integrated view and collective systemic action.

On 25 May 2021, the Wyss Academy embarked on a journey together with food system experts from Latin America, Europe, East Africa and Southeast Asia - of challenging the current food system, and demonstrating pathways towards a new system that is more sustainable and just.

With input from renowned researchers, the Wyss Academy Declaration was developed. It addresses the most pressing topics identified by food experts, namely:
- that we must promote opportunities for youth within the food system,
- that we make nature-positive and just food production a reality,
- and that we must bridge the disconnect between consumers and producers, and move towards fairer food supply chains.

On 15 July 2021, the Wyss Academy convened its first Global Wyss Academy Dialogue on Food Systems. More than 100 food experts from Latin America, Europe, East Africa and Southeast Asia came together to challenge the Wyss Academy Declaration on Food Systems, a call for action that has since been submitted to the UN Food Systems Summit, containing the valuable contributions of our participants.

We are honored to have succeeded in providing a safe space for discussion and exchange, while welcoming critical, but constructive voices - and to have set the scene for future exchanges that catalyse systemic change.

The food industry reports a clear trend towards the production of high-protein plant-based meat alternatives for human consumption. The sector has grown from USD 3.19 billion in 2013 to an estimated USD 5.96 billion in 2022.

Sounds good?

Well, unfortunately there is a downside: In Europe, for example, to a large degree, the raw materials needed to produce meat alternatives are sourced from overseas, which has an impact on emissions. Also, soy and other plants rich in protein often derive from non-sustainable production, which has given rise to discussions around how to produce them locally.
We believe that the question of self-sufficiency with plant-based proteins for human consumption requires an holistic assessment - taking into consideration those plants which are best suited for ecological production, their nutrional and psychological potential, and the steps required to process them into protein concentrates and isolates.

How does your country meet the challenge of an increasing demand for plant-based meat alternatives?

For the co-creation of innovative pathways toward harmonizing food systems and nature conservation, we will promote bold and experimental collaborations - between researchers, policy makers, civil society and the private sector, creating new communities of practice. We want to use the power of knowledge, combined with the strength of positive thinking, to inspire change and enable change agents. If you are or want to become one of them, please get in touch!

ENGAGEMENT

Engaging Youth for Foodsystems

Our exciting partnership with Goodwall & Bites of Transfoodmation. Read the Food Systems manifesto from Bites of Transfoodmation, a food movement created by youth for youth below.

Our partnership with Goodwall and Bites of Transfoodmation and our first challenge together: #Food4Thought

Read the Manifesto

EXPLORING THE CHALLENGE OF SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION

How can raw materials – such as those for making chocolate – can be sourced sustainably?

In partnership with the Centre for Development and Environment (CDE) at the University of Bern, and based on their research into sustainable trade for diversified food systems, this question and its many interlinking facets were explored at the Spirit of Bern in August 2022.

The CDE and the Wyss Academy for Nature are partners in finding innovative new solutions to age-old challenges facing our environment and our societies. This video, co-produced by the two organizations, explores the challenge of sustainable chocolate production.

More about the CDE