The Pre-Summit of the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) taking place in Rome and online next week (26-28 July) will set the stage for the culminating global event in September 2021. Food systems transformation has never been more urgent — the way we produce, process, package, ship, shop for, eat, and waste food is pushing the health of people, animals, and the planet to the limits. It must be placed at the centre of the global agenda. Next week is an opportunity to catalyze local and global action and to integrate, align, and cohere across issues that are inextricably linked.
Acting on our mission to advance the case for food systems transformation and with our 7 Calls to Action designed to impact the thinking and the institutions, policies and practices that shape the future of food, the Global Alliance for the Future of Food is pleased to be part of four official Affiliated Programme sessions:
1. Driving Food System Transformation Through Accounting for the True Value of Food
Monday, 26 July 2021 | 07:30 – 08:20 am ET
Register here
The “hidden costs” of global food and land use systems sum to USD $19.8 trillion per year (Scientific Group of the UN Food Systems Summit, 2021). These costs are being borne by the least advantaged segments of society (frequently smallholder farmers, youth and women) and future generations. Co-hosted by World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), Boston Consulting Group and Global Alliance, this session will focus on driving food system transformation through better understanding and management of economic externalities. The UNFSS is a significant opportunity to transform our food system and deliver sustainability, equity and health. But we need to meet this moment with strong, lasting commitments to food systems transformation by investing in solutions with integrity – like True Cost Accounting.
Suggested reading in advance:
– How to Transform Food Systems? 7 Calls to Action – page 10 for Call to Action #3: Account For Externalities
– True Cost Accounting: Implementation Guidance & Inventory
– Blog: Bankrolling Systems Change: where are the tools for the transformative investor?
– Article: An Unprecedented Opportunity to Show Real Leadership.
2. Towards a Coalition on the true value of food: Making markets work for healthy & sustainable food
Tuesday, 27 July 2021 | 07.30 – 08:20 am ET
Register here
Become part of a global coalition that aims to make healthy and sustainable food profitable and affordable. How? By redefining the value of food through True Cost Accounting and redesigning the economics of food through true pricing, market players and governments can increase the true value food markets create for society. In this session, both the science and practical examples will be discussed. Participants are warmly invited to learn about the true value of food and join in shaping this coalition. This session is co-convened by the Scientific Group of the United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS), Government of the Netherlands, True Price Foundation and the Global Alliance for the Future of Food.
Suggested reading in advance:
– How to Transform Food Systems? 7 Calls to Action – page 10 for Call to Action #3: Account For Externalities
– True Cost Accounting: Implementation Guidance & Inventory
– Blog: FOODSIVI Report Launch: Top Five Resources for True Cost Accounting
3. Strengthening Food Systems Transformation Through Agroecology
Tuesday, 27 July 2021 | 13.30 – 14:20 pm ET
Register here
The aim of this session is to pull the agroecology-related strings together that have emerged in the UNFSS preparations and to translate them into calls to action and commitments. This session is co-convened by Biovision Foundation, Alliance of Bioversity International, Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA), CIFOR-ICRAF, EAT Forum, FAO Scaling Up Agroecology Initiative, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Food Policy Forum for Change, GIZ, Global Alliance for the Future of Food, IFOAM, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères, One Planet Business for Biodiversity (OP2B), Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and WWF.
Suggested reading in advance:
– How to Transform Food Systems? 7 Calls to Action – page 19 for Call to Action #6: Enable Agroecology & Regenerative Approaches
– Resilient Seed Systems: Shared Action Framework
– Beacons of Hope stories: Agroecology Case Studies; Soils, Food and Healthy Communities (SFHC); Drylands Natural Resources Centre (DNRC).
4. True Cost Accounting for Food Systems: redefining value to transform decision making
Tuesday, 27 July 2021 | 13.30 – 14:20 pm ET
Register here
This session is a follow-up to the Independent Dialogue ‘True Cost Accounting for Food Systems: Redefining value to transform decision-making’ and is co-convened by the UN Environment Programme, the Capitals Coalition, and the Global Alliance for the Future of Food. We will present the outcomes of the Independent Dialogue and deepen the understanding of how and why governments, the private sector, civil society, and academia are using True Cost Accounting to assess the impacts and dependencies food systems have on natural, social, and human capital.
Suggested reading in advance:
– How to Transform Food Systems? 7 Calls to Action – page 10 for Call to Action #3: Account For Externalities
– True Cost Accounting: Implementation Guidance & Inventory
– Blog: Global Audience Gathers to Discuss True Cost Accounting as Countdown to UN Food Systems Summit Begins
– Devex Q&A with Pavan Sukhdev: Opportunity For ‘True Cost Accounting’ at UN Food Systems Summit.
