From sack farming to blockchain:

_{Photo: Zoe Schaeffer / Unsplash.}

Top food systems innovations to consider

As a joint Ryan Institute – IFIAD – MScCCAFS Independent Dialogue Initiative, the students were asked to research and identify one ”game changing”  innovation necessary to make a major contribution to achieving the goals of one of the Action Tracks for the Food Systems Summit 2021. The solutions students identified will be promoted via the Independent Dialogue and feed into the official UNFSS process (Stay tuned with our social media and webspace, more information about our online initiative coming shortly).  

So, what tops the list of food systems solutions for the budding experts who are preparing to take on operations in agricultural production, global food security and climate adaptation?

The majority of the students focused on innovations addressing unsustainable consumption patterns. Here the solutions they highlight include high-tech innovations as well as smart public policy. The use of blockchain technology for supply chain transparency and artificial intelligence for smart resource-efficient production, storage and distribution as well as for informing consumer choices was top of the list in terms of future tech development.

Another tech innovation to consider is zero-waste food packaging made from wax and caramelized sugar that mimics egg shells and avocado skin. Alternative protein development, like plant-based meat and eatable insects, was also put forward as a vital innovation to look into and develop further.

_{Photo: Renate Vanaga / Unsplash.}

On the policy side, the MScCCAFS students highlighted the importance of sustainable procurement and that governments should be required to provide healthy sustainably sourced foods at public institutions, like schools and hospitals, and also introduce carbon food tax to increase incentives for sustainable production and consumption.

It was also suggested to establish sugar-free schools as well as food school gardens and create a new city-dwelling identity, working together and gaining insights from urban design. Another sector to partner with is public health. Such integration could generate powerful public influence and demand for policies that address human and environmental health together.

Nature-rich production is also very important for the MSc students and many chose to highlight innovations along this track. Here, powerful multi-purpose and output production methods of agroforestry, organic farming, as well as agroecology, topped the list. The students also proposed to promote nitrogen-fixing plants, biofertilizers and hydroponics. Deployment of these innovations should be supported through robust policy mechanisms and cross-sector partnerships, providing incentives for regenerative agriculture with credit and technical support.

Some of the young researchers considered that gene editing could be used to prevent crises by building crop resilience to climate shocks and plant diseases. And finally, attention should also be paid to powerful low-tech innovations, like sack farming and participatory management and monitoring of food safety at wet markets, essential for food security in low-income countries.