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. By working together across the value chain to transform how food is grown, produced, processed, packaged, distributed, and consumed, we can create more secure, resilient, and sustainable food systems2.
As countries prepare to submit their updated national climate mitigation plans in early 2025, we are joining the climate and food systems community in urging for ambitious plans that will help achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Unlocking the hidden middle
The transformation of food systems is crucial to address some of the world’s biggest challenges: climate mitigation and adaptation, reversing biodiversity loss, and delivering socio-economic benefits. The "hidden middle" of food systems includes the often overlooked parts of the value chain, such as food manufacturing, logistics, storage, packaging, and handling. These segments contribute to 30-40% of the value added and costs in food value chains. Improving the resilience of supply chains, enhancing food security, and transforming traditional food systems into modern and efficient ones is crucial.
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' between the farm gate and the consumer.
Tetra Pak at Climate Week NYC
We are excited to attend Climate Week NYC, the largest annual climate event of its kind, where global food systems will be a core theme.
The event will be critical for climate policy stakeholders and the private sector to share concrete ideas for the new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) developed by all parties to the Paris Agreement.
A preferable future for global food systems in 2040
Our white paper presents a scenario analysis on how food systems can drive ecological, social, and economic wellbeing on our planet, with a safe and just transition.
References
1 Planetary 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.
2 Sustainable food systems mean growing, producing, processing, packaging, distributing and consuming food without negatively impacting the planet. Retrieved from OECD. (2019). Accelerating Climate Action.
3 This 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