The state of food systems worldwide in the countdown to 2030

This analysis presents a recently developed food system indicator framework and holistic monitoring architecture to track food system transformation towards global development, health and sustainability goals. It outlines five key themes and 50 associated indicators for assessing food systems worldwide. This paper offers a valuable baseline dataset and framework for monitoring food systems progress towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Key Insights

Indicator Selection

A multi-stage, multi-stakeholder process was employed to select the 50 indicators for food systems monitoring. This process involved screening indicators for feasibility, coverage, and transparency, followed by quantitative scoring and qualitative consultations with experts and policy stakeholders.

Diets, Nutrition and Health

Supporting human health is one of the three fundamental goals of food systems. The indicator domains in this theme are food environments, food security, and diet quality. Important aspects of food environments include the availability of fruits/vegetables and per capita sales of ultra-processed foods. Access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food and clean water is a core piece of food systems monitoring, as determined by the cost of a healthy diet. The data also captures what individuals actually eat, and they reflect diversity, adequacy, and moderation.

Environment, Food Production and Natural Resources

Food systems are a major contributor to environmental degradation, but they can also protect and restore environmental outcomes if managed appropriately. The domains of environmental indicators address the multiple environmental impacts of food systems: greenhouse gas emissions, land, biosphere integrity, water, pollution, and agricultural production.

Livelihoods, Poverty and Equity

Poverty is most prevalent in rural areas where people earn substantial income shares from agriculture. Four indicator domains capture their well-being: income and poverty, employment, social protection and rights. The available data are more limited due in large part to lack of disaggregation to distinguish food system livelihoods from others.

Governance

Governance is foundational for inclusive food system transformation, encompassing political commitment, participatory processes, and accountability. Three indicator domains capture these dimensions of governance: shared vision and strategic planning, effective implementation, and accountability.

Key Statistics & Data

• Cost of a healthy diet: $3.3 per person per day (current PPP US$)
• Availability of fruits and vegetables: 223.8 grams per capita per day (fruits) & 246.8 grams per capita per day (vegetables)
• Retail value of ultra-processed foods: $204.0 current (nominal) US$ per capita per year
• Percentage of population using safely managed drinking water services: 66.3%
• Prevalence of undernourishment: 9.4% of population
• Percentage of population experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity: 29.5%
• Greenhouse gas emissions: 82,463.9 ktCO₂e
• Proportion of agricultural land with minimum level of species diversity: 22.5%
• Percentage of women consuming a minimum diverse diet: 65.7%

Methodology

The selection of indicators for food systems monitoring involved a multi-stage, multi-stakeholder process. In the first stage, a long list of possible indicators was developed and screened for feasibility, coverage, and transparency. In the second stage, a survey was fielded to all authors and additional experts to quantitatively score the indicators against the criteria and identify any alternative indicators or data sources and indicator gaps. Qualitative consultations were held with over 500 policy stakeholders across the world focused on gathering input on usefulness and gaps. In the final stage, the indicator scores, additional suggestions to address gaps, and gaps that could not be filled were examined to identify the list of 50 indicators presented in this baseline.

Implications and Conclusions

The indicator framework presented allows progress across global food systems to be meaningfully tracked. It provides the foundation for future research to better understand how and where change comes about, and importantly how to identify where improvements in any one domain do not necessarily translate into improvements in others. Three clear messages emerge. First, no country, region, or income group exhibits desirable status across all indicators. Second, not all food system indicators are aligned to country income level; there are a diversity of food system trajectories. And third, there are some critical data gaps to monitor the world’s food systems that must be filled in the near term to guide action in service of food system transformation, meeting the SDGs and ensuring that food systems positively contribute to the many global goals linked to food systems.