A Fork in the Road: Why Global Food Systems Demand More Than Incrementalism

The world's food systems are at an inflection point, wedged between the rock of sustainability, efficiency and the hard place of equitable resource allocation. The terminology of "gaps"—be it Ambition, Transformation, Implementation, or Science, Technology, and Innovation—underscore fault lines that are far from semantic. They are existential challenges that heavily affect how humanity will feed itself in an increasingly constrained ecosystem. Here are some of my reflections that have been nourished in recent weeks, through various encounters and attending key events, such as the Food Systems Summit+2 in July, the World Food Forum in October, and the World Food Prize last week.

Discussions around the concept of “gaps” have been widely used across various sectors, including business, policy-making, and scholarly research. They've evolved to play key roles in global campaigns targeting climate change, sustainability, and gender equality. For instance, the "ambition gap" is often invoked to highlight the disparity between pledged measures and the scientific imperatives for mitigating climate effects. Academically, the "transformation gap" is a go-to concept for detailing the systemic overhauls needed to transition between economic models. Notably, the World Wildlife Fund has not only underscored the importance of these terms in the context of food systems but has also made invaluable contributions to the area by exploring the relationship between these gaps and the need for innovative solutions for global food system transformation. Now, let's delve deeper into these concepts as they relate to our fragile Agrifood systems.

First, nations need to work to reconcile the chasm between international commitments—like the Sustainable Development Goals—and the realities of where we currently stand. This "Ambition Gap" manifests when defined targets are less ambitious than what is needed to achieve the goals we know are necessary.  What is needed is an alignment that eschews fear and remove barriers in favor of a collective vision.

The "Transformation Gap" challenges us to go beyond perfunctory tweaks to Agrifood systems. Incrementalism has its virtues and is needed in particular cases, but must be combined with more disruptive changes when confronting the seismic shifts demanded by today's challenges. The complexity of issues—ranging from food security, health, conflict to climate change—requires a holistic metamorphosis, not mere modifications to the status quo.

Then comes the Implementation Gap—a perpetual barrier to progress in every field, but particularly troubling when our very sustenance is at stake. The gap is the void between policy formulation and its execution. Nothing screams “implementation gap” more than a lack of downstream adoption – whether it be of new and beneficial technologies – or improved production practices mandated by upstream policy makers. Despite the best intentions, policies and programmes sometimes fail to consider some of the hidden barriers to change at the local level. The right innovation or technology cannot be adopted without the right access to credit or finance, or when the science behind it is not understood, well communicated or perceived as against one’s values and beliefs. Understanding behaviors is key. And tapping into local insights and indigenous knowledge is essential.

Particularly concerning is the Science, Technology, and Innovation Gap. In an age of AI and revolutionary technological advances, it's sobering that a significant part of the world still battles with basic agricultural challenges. Unequal access to technology and scientific expertise perpetuates inequalities and hinders sustainable progress.

In a time when the urgency of our challenges leaves no room for delay, failing to bridge these gaps is not just unfortunate; it's disastrous.

How to chart a course through this labyrinthine landscape? At the FAO Office of Innovation, we have developed a way of working to address these gaps, our innovation approach guided by the Science and innovation strategy, orbits around four key areas: anticipating change, catalyzing innovation and acceleration, empowering for innovation, and nurturing an ethos of change, all aimed at solving the complex equation that is global food security.

It starts with anticipation and a culture of innovation. Employing predictive tools that can help us see the problems and potential solutions that live beyond the horizon can prepare us for the terrain ahead. But knowing of a potential innovation is nowhere near enough. We need to catalyze and scale innovation. This entails bridging the gap between science and policy, between innovators and those who could benefit the most from their solutions, facilitating interactions between scientists and farmers, connecting farmers to relevant markets, and fostering the growth of young agro-entrepreneurs at critical intersections.

It is clear that we are not short of solutions and initiatives, but oftentimes they are disconnected. Interdisciplinary collaboration, at academic or industry level and cross-sectoral partnerships can act as accelerators, amplifying the impact of innovations. Moreover, this transformational journey must be made collectively. An era of hyper-connectedness affords an unparalleled opportunity to work together, whether it's South-South and Triangular Cooperation or collaborations among UN entities. Fighting siloes and co-designing solutions is also essential, placing farmers at the center.

Innovation also resides in simplicity. Frugal innovation plays a pivotal role in simplifying complexity and addressing the numerous gaps within global agrifood systems. This concept refers to doing more with less, essentially developing high-quality solutions using minimal resources. By focusing on simplicity and affordability, frugal innovation is particularly well-suited for empowering women and youth—two groups that are traditionally underrepresented yet critically important for sustainable development. Deploying frugal innovations in agricultural practices and food distribution can create avenues for these groups to contribute meaningfully to food security and local economies. For example, simple, cost-effective technologies for water management or crop monitoring can be easily employed and maintained, breaking down barriers to entry and promoting inclusive growth.

Imbuing a culture of innovation in organizations and individuals is pivotal. This culture goes beyond mere creative thinking; it encompasses calculated risk-taking, recognition of excellence, incentives, and leveraging behavioral science for change. A cadre of forward-thinking agents can steer the world toward a more sustainable and resilient food system.

Indeed, these hurdles are daunting, but they are not insurmountable. The time for equivocation is over. As we stand at this fork in the road, let's choose the path that leads to a sustainable and equitable future for all. The alternative is a route we cannot afford to take. The words of Norman Borlaug, the agronomist who launched the Green Revolution, resonate deeply in an era of escalating geopolitical tensions and climate crises: "Food is a moral right of all who are born into this world”.