Transform Food Systems
The Issue
It is often said that we are what we eat. It’s very true — and it is also true that we are what we grow.
Food systems can nourish our bodies and our planet, or they can destroy them.
Food and land use represent one of the largest contributors to climate change in the world and are a leading culprit for unsustainable water use, air pollution, deforestation and land degradation.
The story is just as tragic for human health.
Today, half of the calories we consume come from just three crops — rice, wheat and maize — rather than a diverse range of nutritious foods.
As a result, many health systems are buckling under the weight of largely preventable, diet-related diseases.
The Opportunity
This doesn’t have to be the tale we tell future generations.
Food systems have enormous potential to support healthy diets and nutrition, whilst also supporting livelihoods and protecting the planet.
When we write the new story of food for people and our planet, we build the foundations for a better tomorrow.
There is a happier ending we know how to write — we just need to pick up the pen.
Photo Captions
Image 1 – ©UNICEF/Dejongh
Image 2 – ©UNICEF/Akash
