Chapter 2
Key Inputs from Summit Workstreams
SCIENTIFIC GROUP
The Science Reader for the UNFSS 2021 which features research by the Scientific Group and its global partners in support of Summit action agendas. The Reader brings research-based, state-of-the-art, solution-oriented knowledge and evidence to inform the transformation of contemporary food systems to achieve more sustainable, equitable and resilient food systems. It is available for download at bit.ly/ScGrReader.
You can also find a related blog post by the Chair and Co-Chairs of the Scientific Group at bit.ly/ScKnowScGr.
The preparation of this Reader was made possible through the valuable contributions of the Scientific Group members and its partners with many research organizations and experts who have volunteered to share their knowledge and expertise. It also benefited greatly from the lively discussions at the Science Days. This tremendous support is gratefully acknowledged.
Chapter 1 – Overview of the Food Systems Summit Process
Over the course of 18 months, and in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic, the Secretary-General’s Food Systems Summit has engaged hundreds of thousands of people from around the world in an ambitious effort to accelerate action to transform food systems to realize the vision of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
In the context of the Decade of Action, as both a “People’s Summit” and a “Solutions Summit”, the Food Systems Summit has been a catalytic moment for global public mobilization and motivating actionable commitments by various stakeholders.
Chapter 2 – Key Inputs from Summit Workstreams
As part of the Summit process, over 147 UN Member States led National Dialogues. Their outcomes are being consolidated into national pathways, which are clear visions of what governments, together with various stakeholders, expect of food systems by 2030. Member States and a wide range of experts and stakeholders have contributed more than 2200 suggestions for accelerated action. The Action Tracks have clustered this rich input in a systemic way to build communities of practice and foster new partnerships. The Scientific Group consulted broadly and made a robust contribution to the evidence base underpinning much of the Summit’s work. The UN Task Force helped to mobilize over 40 key global institutions to bring knowledge and expertise. Through the Champions Network, Global Food Systems Summit Dialogues, and over 900 Independent Dialogues, people around the world have offered ideas on how to transform food systems.
Chapter 3 – Overview of the Pre-Summit
UN Food Systems Pre-Summit was held from the 26 – 28th July 2021, at the FAO in Rome and on-line attendance. More than 100 countries came together over the course of three-days to discuss how they will transform their national food systems to drive progress against the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
The official pre-summit programme featured sessions dedicated to four decisive “levers of change”, including women’s empowerment, and human rights.
Chapter 4- Summit
The UN Food Systems Summit will launch bold new actions, solutions, and strategies to deliver progress on all 17 SDGs, each of which relies to some degree on healthier, more sustainable, and equitable food systems. The Summit will awaken the world to the fact that we all must work together to transform the way the world produces, consumes, and thinks about food.
DISCLAIMER: The various sections which form this Compendium are the result of collective work involving thousands of individuals through the Summit’s structures and workstreams, collated and presented by the Food Systems Secretariat as a (necessarily non-exhaustive) compilation of knowledge, tools and analysis which can inform and support efforts at all levels to accelerate action for sustainable food systems and operationalize Sammy outcomes. This compendium is not a product of intergovernmental negotiations and — outside of international agreements — does not represent an endorsement of any particular position contained therein