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Publication | 2024

Spatial typology for food system analysis: Taking stock and setting a research agenda

Global Food and Nutrition Security

Highlights:

  • Based on an existing spatial FNS typology and three extensions, the paper presents a tool for food system analysis in LMIC.
  • The extensions focus on the comprehensive and dynamic nature of food systems and on the need to perform policy trade-offs.
  • The strength of the tool resides in its flexible and pragmatic nature in integrating data of different scope and quality.
  • Earlier versions of the tool have shown great potential in guiding the design and implementation of FNS interventions.
  • More empirical research is needed to validate the three extensions as part of a food system analysis tool.

Abstract:

The objective of this paper is to review an existing tool for geographic targeting of food and nutrition security interventions, take stock of the latest methodological advances, and propose three extensions to help inform food system transformation policies in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Whereas the first extension pursues a broader and more comprehensive perspective, the second and third extensions aim to accommodate the dynamic nature of food systems and the need of policymakers to analyze trade-offs between competing interventions. Compared to other (potential) food system methods, the main added value of the proposed tool resides in its flexible but integrated analytical framework combined with its focus on sub-national areas, both which allow for the design of discretionary regional policies in challenging data environments. Drawing on key lessons from fourteen African country applications, the analytical and policy relevance of this spatial tool is illustrated and areas of further research and improvement are discussed.