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By Marion Nestle

August 15 2025

Weekend Reading: FAO food systems how-to

My former NYU colleague, Corinna Hawkes, who now directs the Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division at FAO in Rome, sent a link to its new publication, Transforming Food and Agriculture through a Systems Approach.

This publication provides an organizing framework for applying a systems approach to the transformation of food and agriculture. Building on evidence from systems science and practical real-world examples from countries, it identifies six core elements of a systems approach and specifies key practices and shifts needed to implement in practice. It includes examples from across the world of how systems-based practices are already being taken forward at different scales.

This publication is about food systems, why they matter, and how to use a food systems approach to improve food quality and access.

It is beautifully illustrated. The definition:

And here’s how it works.

There is much more in this report. I view it as a how-to manual. Use it!

Resources

Download the publication: https://doi.org/10.4060/cd6071en
Dr. Hawkes’ Tweet and Post about the report
Register for briefing sessions: 12 September (11-12 CEST) or 15 September (15-16 CEST)

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