Highlights:

The CFS requested the HLPE-FSN to develop a report to:

1. analyse evidence relating to how inequalities in access to assets (particularly land, other natural resources and finance) and in incomes within food systems impede opportunities for many actors to overcome food insecurity and malnutrition;

2. analyse the drivers of inequalities and provide recommendations on entry points to address these; and

3. identify areas requiring further research and data collection.

Chapter one explains the report’s focus on inequalities and inequities. Inequalities in food systems underlie inequalities in food security and nutrition (FSN). It is vital to address inequalities because they threaten progress on FSN. The report defines inequalities in food systems as the observed differences in FSN outcomes, or related food systems factors (such as access to food production resources), between individuals and groups (when disaggregated by social, economic and geographical position). The latter are underpinned by inequities, defined as the avoidable reasons why uneven distribution exists and why disadvantage accrues systematically, based on asymmetries in social position, discrimination and power.

The conceptual framework describes how inequalities in FSN outcomes are best reduced by addressing inequalities in food systems and in other related systems.

Chapter two leverages existing data to describe patterns and trends of inequality in FSN outcomes. While inequalities in food security are particularly seen to affect populations in Africa, South Asia and the Caribbean, inequality in nutritional status exists globally. Further, despite gains made in reducing undernutrition in LMICs, the global rise in overweight and obesity among both adults and children undermines the past progress made in nutrition and since 2015, food insecurity has worsened in most regions of the world.

Chapter three examines the proximate drivers of FSN inequalities within food systems and in other systems relevant to FSN. Within food systems, it explores three broad areas: (i) inequalities in food production resources; (ii) inequalities in food supply chains (iii) inequalities in food environments and consumer behavior. Within food systems, large, persistent, and often increasing inequalities that constrain FSN exist across the food chain. This includes inequalities in distribution of food production resources, access to knowledge and finance, ability to engage with and gain from modern value chains and markets, storage, processing and distribution, and international food trade. Moreover, size and economic status (for instance, small vs large farms) and gender are major inequality dimensions across the food chain, but other sources of inequality, such as Indigeneity and geographical location, are also frequent constraints to FSN. Food environments also provide highly unequal opportunities for FSN, with low-income populations and minority groups particularly impacted by the inequalities. Inequalities in other relevant systems, which affect FSN, such as education and health systems, contribute to inequalities in FSN outcomes.

Chapter four takes a broader social and historical perspective and examines the deeper systemic drivers and root causes of FSN inequalities.

Economic and market drivers have fundamentally changed food systems by shaping market dynamics, flows of finance, and patterns of global trade to consolidate decision-making power and ownership. These changes have altered dietary patterns in complex ways and curtailed the agency of most food system workers. While some nutritional benefits accrue, there are concerns about the impacts of a transition towards a Western obesogenic diet that exacerbate FSN outcomes, initially affecting the wealthiest in society but then gradually becoming a problem for the most marginalised or socio-economically disadvantaged sections of society.

Policies related to different dimensions and actors in the food systems have remained siloed, and seldom focus on the needs of the most marginalized. In many cases, this has exacerbated pressures and created vulnerabilities. Violence and conflict are the main drivers of acute and chronic hunger, undermining people’s agency and exacerbating poor FSN outcomes for the most vulnerable. Geopolitical interests often determine whether the impacts of conflict on FSN outcomes are exacerbated or ameliorated, and where. Reaffirming the right to food in all geopolitical conflicts can help reduce inequalities in FSN outcomes.

Sociocultural drivers intersect with all categories of drivers, to create barriers that produce and reinforce existing inequalities. Historical inequities will therefore persist, unless explicitly challenged with equity-sensitive policies and practices.

Chapter five presents actions that can be taken within food and other systems to improve FSN. A variety of actions to address inequalities are necessary across the food systems and related systems. These are clustered into four broad categories: food production; food supply chains; food environment and consumption; and enabling environment, broader context and governance.

Within food production, major action areas to reduce inequalities for FSN include: (i) enabling more equal access to land, forests, livestock and fisheries, (ii) applying agroecological principles across production and broader food systems, (iii) establishing inclusive producer organizations, and (iv) investing in equity-sensitive public agricultural and food- systems research and other rural public investments.

The action areas in food supply chains include: (i) adopting inclusive value chain approaches; (ii) developing labour-protection policies, strategies, and programmes for food-system workers; (iii) considering territorial approaches in food system and regional development planning; (iv) investing in equity-sensitive storage, food processing and distribution infrastructure; and (v) investing in improved information systems, leveraging digital technologies.

Under food environment and consumption, the main action areas include: (i) food-environment planning and governance; (ii) incorporating behavioural insights into policymaking and programming; and (iii) strengthening social protection.

Several action areas pertaining to the enabling environment, broader context and governance include: (i) food- and nutrition-sensitive policy and planning; (ii) addressing corporate power asymmetries in governance; (iii) universal health care that integrates nutrition care; (iv) a holistic approach to climate and sustainability; and (v) inclusive growth for FSN, and policy that goes beyond growth.