Transforming Food Systems in Times of Global Disorder

The transformation of global food systems is affected by global shocks and geopolitical changes. After decades of reductions in poverty, hunger, and malnutrition, the past decade has seen a dramatic reversal. Challenges caused by rising conflicts, climate shocks, and COVID‐19 (CCC) are reinforced by slowing productivity growth, trade disruptions, and increasing market volatility. While transformation requires major investments in agri‐food systems, global public investment in agricultural R&D has slowed, in both high‐ and low‐income countries. Reductions in development assistance further threaten investment in the world's poorest regions. But the crisis also presents opportunities. A new Agri‐food Aid and Investment Architecture (AAA) may be required, and key parts of such a financial architecture are already emerging, characterized by a larger contribution of emerging countries and the private sector, and the need for more efficient use of existing public and private expenditures.