This synthesis report presents some of the initial findings on strategic food system sustainability issues that are emerging from the food systems assessments and stakeholder consultations underway in over 50 countries around the world, including the eight pilot countries which were first to complete the process. After a succinct description of the approach and method, this report focuses on results emerging from a sample of those pilot countries that have concluded the assessments (Bhutan, Nepal, Senegal and Madagascar), highlighting both national and sub-national findings. It then presents some of the emerging strategic or key sustainability issues that are being analyzed and discussed in the ongoing food system assessments. Among them:

1.       How can countries transition from mono-crop production systems (e.g., maize, banana) aimed at covering energy needs to a more diversified food base (e.g., vegetables, dairy, indigenous grains) to improve nutrition and compete against growing food imports, while keeping high-value production?

2.       How can countries strengthen decentralization processes and local government capacities to reinforce governance structure and better address multiple challenges of land tenure and insecurity, while ensuring provision of critical services and infrastructure required for dynamic territorial food systems?

3.       What measures can be taken to promote agro-ecological transition and effectively limit environmental degradation, including deforestation, overgrazed pasturelands, loss of biodiversity, mangrove destruction and overfishing, non-recyclable food packaging waste, and groundwater contamination?

4.       What set of multi-sector options are available for countries to provide affordable and nutritious food to their populations to counter the double burden of malnutrition and overweight/obesity and the increase in Non-Communicable Diseases related to poor diet?

5.       How can we most effectively address the increasing marginalization of smallholder producers, especially women, particular ethnic groups and those in remote areas, by providing improved access to productive assets, inputs, services and markets to make a living and escape chronic food insecurity?

6.       Limited availability of public infrastructure and amenities in rural areas compared to urban settings (e.g., limited access to drinkable water and electricity) has a big impact on health as well as on the capacity of agro-processing value chains to consider nutrition. It is also a driver for youth migration to urban areas. How can public and private actors address equity gaps through targeted support for food SMEs in rural areas?

7.       Which solutions exist for inclusive business models involving smallholders, youth and women in the food system that promote nutrition-sensitive commercialization across the food value chains and take advantage of emerging opportunities in domestic and regional markets?