Hesat2030

?? Women play a central role in ensuring household food and nutrition security. Yet, women and children are disproportionately affected by food insecurity and malnutrition.? More than a billion adolescent girls and women suffer from undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and anaemia. And, according to UNICEF, maternal acute malnutrition rose by 25% between 2020-2022 in countries the worst-hit by the global food crisis. ?? Yet, researchers from the The University of Edinburgh have shown that women empowerment in agriculture can help improve crop diversity in terms of the number of crops grown, the number of food groups grown, and whether nutrient-dense crops were grown. (https://lnkd.in/eUWvkuqp) Gender must therefore be a key consideration when considering interventions to reduce hunger and malnutrition. ?? Hesat2030 will unveil a new report that will provide a comprehensive analysis and costing of the most effective nutrition sensitive interventions in agrifood systems that improve diets and nutrition for all. With its evidence-based recommendations, we can achieve healthy diets and improve nutrition sustainably, without breaching the 1.5 °C threshold, and equitably. #Nutrition4Growth #IWD2025 Carin Smaller | Jaron Porciello | Valeria Pi?eiro | Vlada Boldyreva | Lysiane L. | Rosie Cowper | Asma Lateef | SDG2 Advocacy Hub | Charles Kabena | Ramya Ambikapathi | Hafsa Sheikh | Juno Evidence Alliance | CABI | Shamba Centre for Food & Climate | Joan Conrow | Sini Savilaakso | Lily Bliznashka

The aid landscape has changed dramatically in recent weeks. A new approach is needed that can leverage industrial policy to transform food systems. The recent UNIDO and FAO report, Ending hunger is possible: an income-generating approach through value-addition, provides six recommendations on how to make this happen. ???Recommendation #3?- Build the processing, distribution and retail sectors Today, food processing industries comprise around a third of total manufacturing employment in a number of African countries. And demand is rising, with the share of imported processed foods growing to fill the gap in domestic supply. However, the continent lacks skilled labour to fill industrial jobs and the barriers for SMEs to enter the food processing sector remain high. The most effective interventions to add value to primary production and increase incomes are: ? investment in agrifood processing, particularly by agrifood SMEs in domestic and cross-border markets ? better handling practices, improved packaging, more careful timing of the harvest, and cold storage for perishables, such as fruit and?vegetables ? diversification towards manufacturing ? vocational training and university enrolment in STEM to meet the demands of the food processing sector for skilled labour ? strategic investment in rural roads and bridges, focusing on connecting agricultural production areas to markets and ensuring regular maintenance ? food safety measures such as basic food preservation methods and advanced industrial processes,?accompanied by nutrition education. Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/dTNncK7u This report was carried out under the direction of Hesat2030 Co-Chairs Carin Smaller and David Laborde. Jaron Porciello | Valeria Pi?eiro | Monique Tsang | Hafsa Sheikh | Vlada Boldyreva | Francine Picard | Gunther Beger | Rana Fakhoury | Dejene Tezera | Elsa Olivetti | Hannah Grupp | Joan Conrow

An estimated 20% of global mortality is attributed to poor diet quality. In low- and middle-income countries, smallholder farmers’ diets are largely shaped by what they?produce, while in peri-urban and urban areas diets are increasingly shaped by the availability of low-cost, ultra-processed foods. This results in poor quality diets and increased consumption of unhealthy foods. What do we need? Interventions that can tackle food insecurity and malnutrition all along the food value chain, from farm to fork. This requires policies that tackle nutrition from production, to markets and, finally, through consumption.? An upcoming report by Hesat2030, prepared by the FAO, the Juno Evidence Alliance and the Shamba Centre for Food & Climate, will identify the most effective and efficient interventions?to achieve food and nutrition security in the most vulnerable populations by 2030. Find out more https://lnkd.in/eYWyUAdZ Ramya Ambikapathi | Joan Conrow | Carin Smaller | Jaron Porciello | David Laborde | Valeria Pi?eiro | Hafsa Sheikh | Vlada Boldyreva

?? Hunger and malnutrition need to be tackled simultaneously Historically, food security programs have prioritized the production of sufficient calories as the core pathway to eradicate hunger. And while these programs have been highly effective at reducing hunger in many countries, only part of the food security problem has been addressed. This has led to an increase in negative health, environmental and social impacts. Take Cambodia as an example. Cambodia reduced hunger without addressing nutrition. While the prevalence of hunger has decreased from nearly 25% in 2000 to 5% in 2020, the prevalence of obesity has triple among women and men in the same period, and most dramatically since 2016.?? ? This places significant health and economic burdens on countries with a current cost estimate of USD 760 billion worldwide each year. ?? Tackling malnutrition from the onset is needed. Nutrition outcomes must be integrated into the design and implementation of agriculture and food security projects. But what are the most effective interventions in agrifood systems for healthy diets and positive nutrition outcomes? ?? With its partners, FAO, the Juno Evidence Alliance and the Shamba Centre for Food & Climate, Hesat2030 is developing a comprehensive assessment and economic modelling of nutrition-sensitive interventions to achieve food and nutrition security in the most vulnerable populations by 2030, and within the limits set by the Paris climate agreement.? Many thanks to the SDG2 Advocacy Hub for inviting us to present our preliminary results. Asma Lateef | Rosie Cowper | Carin Smaller | Jaron Porciello | David Laborde | Valeria Pi?eiro | Hafsa Sheikh | Ramya Ambikapathi ? Find out more: https://lnkd.in/eWVypTxq

Can industrial policy offer a roadmap for?food systems transformation? The recent?UNIDO?and?FAO?report, Ending hunger is possible: an income-generating approach through value-addition, provides six recommendations on how to make this happen. ???Recommendation #2?-Invest in infrastructure Currently, post-harvest losses account for 20% of food loss in Sub-Saharan African. Reducing these losses and costs along the value chain requires industrialization. However, this infrastructure must be low carbon and widely available to small-scale producers and SMEs.?? ???The most effective interventions to improve infrastructure focus on electrification and irrigation infrastructure, combined with road infrastructure?for even greater results; and support several storage interventions?to reduce post-harvest losses for cereals and pulses. What are some examples? ??In Ethiopia, investment in thousands of rural roads has connected isolated villages and improved access to services and stimulated economic growth ??Cold chain facilities have the potential to increase smallholder farmers’ market access and incomes through better preservation of perishable produce and reducing post-harvest losses. Read the full report:?https://lnkd.in/dTNncK7u This report was carried out under the direction of?Hesat2030?Co-Chairs?Carin Smaller?and?David Laborde. Jaron Porciello | Valeria Pi?eiro | Monique Tsang | Hafsa Sheikh | Vlada Boldyreva | Francine Picard | Gunther Beger | Rana Fakhoury | Dejene Tezera | Elsa Olivetti | Hannah Grupp

?? Announcing a new project: Mapping the link between climate resilience and food security to identify the most effective policy interventions? ? Under the aegis of the Hesat2030, the Juno Evidence Alliance and the Shamba Centre for Food & Climate have launched a new project to identify the most promising agricultural interventions to enhance climate resilience and food security in low- and middle-income countries. Researchers from J-WAFS at MIT Fact Alliance and the University of Aberdeen are also participating in this work.?? ? Despite extensive scientific literature exploring solutions to enhance food security and resilience to climate change, an integrated focus on these two topics is lacking. ? ? To bridge this gap, this new Hesat2030 project will compile and assess existing evidence to identify patterns, gaps, and synergies in agricultural interventions that enhance climate resilience and food security. ?? Research findings, including a systematic map of evidence and policy recommendations, are expected to be published in September 2025, with the aim of supporting evidence-based decision-making. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/emWU-f-r Isik Ozturk | Oshani Perera | Sini Savilaakso | Jaron Porciello | Neal Haddaway | Hafsa Sheikh | Monique Tsang | Greg Sixt | CABI | FAO | Global Donor Platform for Rural Development

Can we approach food systems transformation as an industrial policy? The recent?UNIDO?and?FAO?report, Ending hunger is possible: an income-generating approach through value-addition, provides six recommendations on how to make this happen. ???Recommendation #1 - Improvements in productivity through agricultural research & development, extension services and farm mechanisation Examples: ??In Zambia, mechanized land preparation increased yields by 25% ??Tractor use in 11 other African countries increased maize yields by approximately half a tonne per hectare. ???Farm efficiency is about producing less with more and producing it in the places that need it most. Hunger is not a problem of lack of food at the global scale but rather the discrepancy between where it is produced and where it is consumed. Read the full report:?https://lnkd.in/dTNncK7u This report was carried out under the direction of?Hesat2030?Co-Chairs?Carin Smaller?and?David Laborde Jaron Porciello | Valeria Pi?eiro | Monique Tsang | Hafsa Sheikh | Vlada Boldyreva | Francine Picard | Gunther Beger | Rana Fakhoury | Dejene Tezera | Elsa Olivetti | Hannah Grupp

Find out more from the Zero Hunger Coalition about its participation at the recent African Union summit which adopted the Kampala Declaration and the?CAADP Strategy and Action Plan: 2026-2035. ? Initial thoughts from its Chair, Dr Ibrahim Mayaki (https://lnkd.in/euU8yZg9) ? The convergence of agendas in Africa: aligning food, climate and nutrition (https://lnkd.in/eHSenQiA) ? Parliamentary leadership in action to implement the post-Malabo Agenda (https://lnkd.in/eBSfzwaR) ?? The Zero Hunger Coalition is organising a webinar on 6 February @14hCET that will focus on implementing the Kampala Declaration. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eCSbjUSc The Zero Hunger Coalition is a Hesat2030 initiative. Francine Picard | Lié MAMINIAINA | Namukolo Covic | David Nabarro | Jeremy Lissouba | Neema K. Lugangira | Paul-Valentin Ngobo | Dora Siliya | Stefanos Fotiou | Lawrence Haddad CMG | AGRA UN Food Systems Coordination Hub | Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) | Global Donor Platform for Rural Development | SDG2 Advocacy Hub

"A?world without hunger is possible. We know how to do it and we know how much it would cost. And if we take an industrial development approach that prioritises job creation and income-generation, we could build a more sustainable future for all." ???In 2020, Ceres2030 projected that it would cost an additional USD 330 billion to end hunger by 2030.?However, recent reports?indicate?that ending hunger by 2030 will cost an extra USD 540 billion.?Our inaction to end hunger has a price – USD 210 billion. During the Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft (German - African Business Association) #GAAF25, under the patronage of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Shamba Centre for Food & Climate's Mali Eber Rose presented the findings of a recent report published by?FAO and UNIDO, in collaboration with?Hesat2030,?that updates the work of Ceres2030. This report calls for the adoption of?an income-generating approach through value addition in the agrifood sector. What does this mean? ?? It means making agriculture more diverse, productive and mechanized ?? It means focusing on low carbon transport, storage, processing, and value addition that prioritizes domestic economies ?? It means approaching food systems transformation as an industrial policy Read more: https://lnkd.in/echEkhpM Carin Smaller | David Laborde | Jaron Porciello | Valeria Pi?eiro | Monique Tsang | Hafsa Sheikh | Vlada Boldyreva | Francine Picard | Gunther Beger | Rana Fakhoury | Dejene Tezera | Elsa Olivetti | Hannah Grupp

?? Every year, millions of scientific papers are published - with a new scientific article published every 7 seconds. How can policy makers use of this data without cherry-picking information? Evidence-synthesis. Evidence-synthesis uses these underlying primary studies for evidence-informed decision-making. How? By integrating data, evidence, and rigorous evaluation methodologies to provide an overview of current scientific knowledge. ?? New technologies, such as artificial intelligence including large language models and generative pre-trained transformer models, can help to streamline the process. Find out more from Hesat2030 Co-Chair, Jaron Porciello, who explains how Hesat2030 uses evidence-synthesis to help policy makers make informed decisions. https://lnkd.in/eXD-2SEk Carin Smaller | David Laborde | Valeria Pi?eiro | Isik Ozturk | Hafsa Sheikh | Alexandra Tung | Andy Robinson | CABI | FAO | International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) | Shamba Centre for Food & Climate | Global Donor Platform for Rural Development | Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)