Innovating for sustainable food systems transformations: Scaling success stories beyond technology

On November 23, 2023, the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub hosted a webinar titled "Innovating for sustainable food systems transformations: Scaling success stories beyond technology,” bringing together an esteemed panel of experts to explore a holistic approach to innovation, delving into the societal, economic, institutional and environmental factors.

The imperative to transform food systems

Mr. Vincent Martin, Director of the Office of Innovation at FAO, set the stage, underscoring the pivotal crossroads at which food systems presently stand. Projections indicate that by 2030, approximately 590 million people, nearly 7% of the global population, will still grapple with hunger. “Business as usual is not an option,” he stated, emphasizing that innovation is the only way forward. While acknowledging progress made, such as 126 countries adopting national food systems transformation pathways, Mr. Martin stressed the urgent need for purposeful and strategic solutions aligned with a clear vision. The significance of context-specific, inclusive, and scalable innovations emerged as a pivotal factor in driving change.

The floor was then handed over to three food systems experts, each presenting a unique perspective on innovation within the food systems landscape.

Unleashing the power of climate-smart innovation

Ms. Emmastella Gakuo, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Savanna Circuit, painted a vibrant picture of how Savanna Circuit has been providing climate-smart solutions in post-harvest management for farmers in Africa. Through extensive market research and collaboration, Savanna Circuit identified storage and cold chain solutions as critical needs for smallholder farmers, leading to the development of solar-powered mobile chillers. These innovations facilitated a cold chain for dairy businesses, preventing microbial growth and spillage. Ms. Gakuo emphasized the importance of building with and around existing solutions, harnessing the deep-rooted knowledge of smallholder farmers. “We make smallholder farmers the champions of everything we do,” she explained, “so that we can bring real impact to the communities that we work with.” These mobile chillers, employing an affordable and scalable business model with lease-to-own options, have reached over 22,000 smallholder farmers in 10 dairy zones across Kenya, transporting approximately 2.4 million liters of milk. The organization also actively contributes to climate-smart policymaking by elevating the voices and experiences of farmers, addressing policy gaps and promoting dairy produce safety regulations.

Scaling up innovations through finance

Ms. Gladys Morales, the Senior Officer and Global Head of Innovation at IFAD, highlighted IFAD's role as an international financial institution with a focus on smallholder farmers and vulnerable groups. She underscored the significance of smallholder farmers, who produce a substantial portion of the world's food but face significant challenges in accessing adequate financing. To tackle this issue, IFAD is actively engaged in innovative solutions, including a digital public infrastructure utilizing blockchain and Web3 technologies to enhance digital products and services for smallholder farmers. Another initiative, Land Monitor, focuses on changing the approach to data collection and evidence gathering, particularly involving women, to influence policies related to land tenure and agricultural productivity. “One of the main findings of Land Monitor was that when you give women access to land tenure, agricultural productivity increases,” she noted. “With data and with evidence, we are able to influence the policy and national strategies.” Lastly, Ms. Morales emphasized the importance of partnerships and introduced the 3FS tool, developed in collaboration with the World Bank, which provides real-time information on food systems financing at both national and global levels. The ultimate goal is to help countries track and optimize financial flows, allowing them to mobilize resources for scaling up innovation. She concluded with the resounding message that “anyone can be an innovator. What we need is the ability to scale up innovation. And for that, financial resources are extremely necessary."

Enhancing accessibility to innovation

Mr. Vivien Bodereau, Mission Lead Net-Zero Food Systems at EIT Food, painted a compelling picture of EIT Food's role in fostering connections and innovation across the food value chain. He highlighted recent EIT Food initiatives, such as their collaborations with academia and industry to diversify protein sources sustainably. Noting the importance of knowledge dissemination, EIT Food actively shares its learnings through a think tank on protein diversification, resulting in published papers and policy briefs aimed at influencing European policymakers. Mr. Bodereau also addressed the question of innovation accessibility, emphasizing EIT Food's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and democratization of knowledge through online courses. The organization champions the Empowering Women in Agriculture (EWA) program, addressing the lack of female representation in agri-food leadership while nurturing entrepreneurship. Since its establishment, this program has expanded across eleven countries, supporting over 200 participants and facilitating the creation of more than 20 businesses. Noting the importance of adapting approaches to diverse needs, Mr. Bodereau reinforces the message that “driving change does not necessarily require high-tech equipment but rather a change of approach, attitude, and mindset.”

The webinar culminated in a brief Q&A, leaving participants equipped with a deeper understanding of how innovation, beyond technology, is integral to transforming food systems for a sustainable and equitable future.

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