Food systems solutions for healthier diets, better nutrition and health amidst climate change

Food systems have a great potential to fulfill food security and nutrition for providing year-round healthy and affordable diets for all. Currently, however, our food systems have not yet delivered their full potential, leaving billions of people food insecure and unable to afford healthy diets; millions of children are stunted and wasted; and there is rising prevalence of obesity and non-communicable diseases. Hence, food systems in many parts of the world fail to deliver their missions! In the Asia-Pacific, the situation is exacerbated by population growth, urbanisation, changing consumption patterns, COVID-19, and the Ukraine war, and it is further complicated by climate change leading to unhealthy diets, poor nutrition and health, as well as unsustainable livelihoods and environment. Climate affects agri-food production which, however, is also a contributor to climate change. One-third of GHG emissions are generated from food systems. Climate change influences the entire food systems: poor soil fertility and reduced crop yield, biodiversity loss, pest diseases, reduced density and bioavailability of nutrients in foods, etc. Thus, climate change may increase malnutrition and health risks, deteriorate livelihoods and unsustainable environment. Sustainable and resilient food systems transformation coupled with nature-positive solutions, including climate-smart agriculture aligned with contextual ecosystem function, biodiversity and environmental conservation are warranted to ensure healthier diets and optimal health, and to mitigate and adapt the impact of climatic and food system interactions on diet, health and environment. Food systems transformation can harness the power of food systems to benefit humanity and the earth.

食物系统具备巨大潜力以实现粮食安全与营养目标，为所有人提供全年健康且可负担的膳食。然而当前，我们的食物系统尚未充分发挥其潜力，导致数十亿人面临粮食不安全且无法负担健康膳食；数百万儿童发育迟缓和消瘦；肥胖与非传染性疾病的患病率亦在上升。因此，全球许多地区的食物系统未能完成其使命！在亚太地区，人口增长、城市化、消费模式转变、新冠疫情及乌克兰战争加剧了这一局势，而气候变化进一步使问题复杂化，导致不健康膳食、不良营养与健康状况，以及不可持续的生计与环境。气候影响农业食品生产，而农业食品生产本身亦是气候变化的促成因素之一。三分之一的温室气体排放源自食物系统。气候变化影响整个食物系统：土壤肥力下降、作物产量减少、生物多样性丧失、病虫害滋生、食物中营养素密度及生物可利用性降低等。因此，气候变化可能加剧营养不良与健康风险，恶化生计状况及不可持续的环境。亟需推动可持续且具韧性的食物系统转型，并辅以自然友好型解决方案，包括与情境化生态系统功能、生物多样性及环境保护相契合的气候智能型农业（Climate-smart agriculture），以确保更健康的膳食与最佳健康状态，同时缓解并适应气候与食物系统相互作用对膳食、健康及环境的影响。食物系统转型可借助食物系统的力量造福人类与地球。