The topic of the Knowledge Centre on Sustainable Food System is structured around five  sections:

• Sustainable and inclusive agri-food value chains that include better storage, logistics, processing, packaging, distribution and food service activities are important driver for the economy, provide job opportunities and is an important component for food security. The Global Gateway Initiative of the European Union invests in these agri-food value chains.
• It is essential to recognize the critical role that gender equality plays in ensuring the long-term viability and sustainability of food systems. The Global Gateway Initiative's investment in agri-food value chains presents an opportunity to promote gender equality and empower women, who are often the primary caregivers and food producers in many communities. However, the current state of the global food system is marked by significant challenges.
• Agroecology is increasingly being promoted as a viable approach for the transitions towards sustainable food systems. It involves applying ecological principles to agriculture to ensure a regenerative use of natural resources, while addressing the need for socially and economically equitable food systems.
• Food safety is crucial throughout the value chain, impacting food security. Mycotoxins pose a significant threat to global food safety and security, and disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries. Contamination by fungi can occur at any stage, from field to market, leading to substantial food losses. The consumption of contaminated food and feed can affect human and animal health.
• Similarly, fisheries and aquaculture are seen as a lower footprint production source (compared to agriculture) contributing to global food security and sustainability. Per kilogram of output and compared to livestock production, aquatic animal production systems have a lower carbon footprint and emission of nitrogen and phosphorous are much lower. In addition, the consumption of fish, shellfish and algae contributes to the transition to a healthy and sustainable diet.
• The expansion of the trade in commodities has led to undesired outcomes, i.a. deforestation and child labour. The EUDR - Regulation on deforestation-free value chains mandates that any operator or trader dealing with commodities like cocoa must ensure their products are not sourced from recently deforested land or contribute to forest degradation. The Sustainable Cocoa Initiative, launched in 2020, supplements the EU Deforestation Regulation by sharing its objective of tackling deforestation and by addressing technical issues for instance linked to traceability