WHO has embarked into a process developing a global Health Narrative for Sustainable Food Systems and to contribute to the UN Food Systems Summit 2021. The narrative is envisioned to be framed in a systemic approach addressing knowledge gaps and needs to create a momentum around three areas: healthy eating, food safety, and sustainable diets, with the aim to strengthen investments and action highlighting the potential gains of this novel approach, both at policy and consumer levels.
This webinar is the fourth in a series of conversations with experts, partners and WHO staff. At this webinar, the recently published Foresight 2 report ‘’Future Food Systems: For people, our planet, and prosperity’’ from the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition will be presented and discussed.
The objective is that this webinar will contribute to the ongoing discussion/process in WHO to build the Health Narrative inherent in Sustainable Food Systems.
The Foresight 2 Report
This evidence-based Global Panel report offers policy solutions to improve the quality of diets using a food systems approach through promoting availability, accessibility, affordability, and desirability of sustainable healthy diets for all. The report aims to set out a practical way forward which is grounded in the realities of policy development with focus on low- and middle-income countries.
The report puts the health impact of current food systems in the centre by describing the multiple impacts of food systems on people’s health and well-being, and highlighting the hidden costs in terms of economic and development. The advice and recommendations offered by the report put emphasis on a government-wide approach to resolve policy distortions and incoherence across sectors and responsible ministries from the perspective of delivering sustainable healthy diets. Health Authorities have a key role to define the objectives of food system transformation jointly with leaders of the agriculture, industry, trade and other sectors.
Guest Speaker
Prof Patrick Webb will present to us the key findings and recommendations of the report. Prof Webb is Technical Adviser to the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition; and Alexander McFarlane Professor of Nutrition, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.
Prof Webb is engaged in research and policy guidance around the globe as Director for USAID’s Feed the Future Nutrition Innovation Lab (fieldwork ongoing in Nepal, Uganda, Malawi, Bangladesh, Egypt and Cambodia), and leads the US government’s Food Aid Quality Review (cost-effectiveness trials in Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone and Malawi). Until 2005, he worked for the United Nations' World Food Programme as Chief of Nutrition. Earlier, Prof Webb spent nine years with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). He is Technical Adviser to the Global Panel and Co-Chair of the Lead Expert Group for the Foresight 2.0 Report on Future Food Systems.
Preliminary Agenda
Chairperson: Dr Francesco Branca, Director Nutrition and Food Safety, WHO
15:00-15:05: Welcome and Opening remarks by Dr Naoko Yamamoto, Assistant Director General UHC/HEP, WHO
15:05-15:25: Presentation of the report by Prof Patrick Webb, Technical Adviser, Global Panel on Agriculture and Food System for Nutrition
15:25-15:30: Commentary by Ms Cristina Romanelli, ECH/Climate Change and Health, WHO
15:30-15:55: Discussion - feedback and reflections from participants
15:55-16:00: Closing Remarks by Dr Francesco Branca, Director Nutrition and Food Safety, WHO
Register
Please confirm your participation to wustefeldm@who.int. A zoom link to the webinar will be sent after registration.