Sustainable food and agricultural systems
The transformation of food and agricultural systems is a critical nexus issue. New systems of food and agricultural production are urgently needed to replace current business-as-usual scenarios, not only to safeguard biodiversity but also food security and nutrition, land health and local livelihoods.
Unsustainable agricultural practices are the leading driver of biodiversity loss globally and a key contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. In turn food and agricultural systems are threatened by climate change and the decline in nature and ecosystems.
3.83 billion people globally depend on food and agriculture for their livelihoods and agriculture is the largest source of income for poor, rural households. With global food production predicted to increase as much as 70% over the next 25 years, the need for transformed food and agricultural systems is central to our future.
IUCN engagement in food and agricultural systems
IUCN’s 20 Year Vision to 2045 introduces 8 global transformations needed to achieve it, including Food systems and Sustainable Agriculture. Here, IUCN’s Secretariat will work with Members and Commissions to catalyse food and agricultural systems that value and conserve nature, while safeguarding human wellbeing and societal benefits.
How will we achieve this? In the next 4 years, through its 2026-2029 Programme, IUCN will advance its vision by achieving significant progress in establishing sustainable and nature-positive multifunctional agricultural landscapes, ones which sustainably and equitably use, conserve and restore biodiversity and ecosystem integrity, and safeguard food security, nutrition and local livelihoods.
Our roadmap for this journey is our Theory of Change.
We show our Theory of Change as a series of concentric circles, with each circle driving change in the next layer. At the centre (dark green), IUCN applies its catalytic roles to support the momentum for change for a wide range of stakeholders (listed at the foot of the graphic) who co-design and implement solutions and initiatives. These catalyse change in 4 interconnected solution areas (light green) which combine together to add up to our 4-year ambition in the outer white circle. This change process will move Food and Agricultural Systems from the unsustainable and degraded state shown on the left-hand side to the positive situation shown on the right.
More detail on our Theory of Change can be found here
IUCN
The IUCN Secretariat focuses on driving 3 types of changes to achieve food and agricultural systems transformation:
Change on the ground
Change on the ground, where we pursue achieving significant progress in establishing sustainable and nature-positive multifunctional agricultural landscapes.
Change in the enabling environment
Change in the enabling environment, which covers convening and facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogues and platforms, and advocating for and facilitating the development and implementation of supportive governance systems, policies and action plans.
Change in knowledge & capacity
Change in knowledge and capacity, which includes developing and disseminating effective knowledge products, evidence, guidance, metrics and tools, and strengthening the capacity to use them.
Publication
2024
In 2021, IUCN launched the IUCN Flagship Report Series, to help demonstrate the importance of conserving nature for human well-being and all life on Earth. This report, the second in the series,…
Publication
2024
Unsustainable agricultural practices are among the main causes of biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution globally. It is thus essential to integrate environmental conservation practices in…
Publication
2024
Food is one of the basic needs for human life. At the same time, agriculture is a leading cause of biodiversity loss, driving 80% of deforestation and consuming 70% of freshwater resources globally…
Contact the Food and Agricultural Systems Team
Should you have a specific enquiry, we invite you to reach out to us via this form.
Publication
2024
In 2021, IUCN launched the IUCN Flagship Report Series, to help demonstrate the importance of conserving nature for human well-being and all life on Earth. This report, the second in the series,…
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Event
Nature based Solutions for decent rural youth employment in agri-food systems
Welcome to the IUCN/FAO side event to discuss ‘Nature-based Solutions for decent rural youth employment in agri-food systems’ during the 51st plenary session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS 51),…
Sustainable food and agricultural systems
