What are food systems? | World Food Programme

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns#"> <head>  <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-KN3K8D');</script>  <meta charset="utf-8" /> <meta name="description" content="Learn all about food systems and why improving them is essential to reaching zero hunger." /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Food systems | World Food Programme" /> <meta property="og:description" content="Failures in food systems fuel hunger and limit livelihoods. Through “systemic food assistance” WFP can help address these issues." /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Failures in food systems fuel hunger and limit livelihoods. Through “systemic food assistance” WFP can help address these issues." /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@WFP" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Food systems | World Food Programme" /> <meta name="Generator" content="WFP CMS" /> <meta name="MobileOptimized" content="width" /> <meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, user-scalable=no" /> <script> dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; dataLayer.push({"event":"track_page","content_type":"thematic_page","content_topics":"Food systems","content_publication_date":"2017-04-11"}); </script><script type="application/ld+json">{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "name": "UN World Food Programme (WFP)", "url": "https://www.wfp.org/", "potentialAction": { "@type": "SearchAction", "target": { "@type": "EntryPoint", "urlTemplate": "https://www.wfp.org/search?search_api_fulltext={search_key}" }, "query-input": "required name=search_key" } }</script> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge" /> <meta name="theme-color" content="#007DBC" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://www.wfp.org/food-systems" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="ar" href="https://ar.wfp.org/food-systems" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="fr" href="https://fr.wfp.org/systemes-alimentaires" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="es" href="https://es.wfp.org/sistemas-alimentarios" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="zh-hans" href="https://zh.wfp.org/food-systems" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="de" href="https://de.wfp.org/ernaehrungssysteme" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="it" href="https://it.wfp.org/sistemi-alimentari" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="ja" href="https://ja.wfp.org/food-systems" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="ru" href="https://ru.wfp.org/food-systems" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.wfp.org/food-systems" /> <link rel="shortlink" href="https://www.wfp.org/node/1202" /> <link rel="icon" href="https://cdn.wfp.org/favicon.ico" sizes="any" /> <link rel="icon" href="/themes/custom/wfp_org/images/logos/wfp-icon.svg" type="image/svg+xml" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://cdn.wfp.org/guides/ui/assets/v0.0.1/favicons/apple-touch-icon-180-precomposed.png" /> <link rel="manifest" href="/manifest.webmanifest" /> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com" /> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com" crossorigin /> <title>What are food systems? | World Food Programme</title> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_sx2LbRbOrI0XodZc-OTtjYopllbaXdkVBO1DeebFJT4.css?delta=0&language=en&theme=wfp_org&include=eJx1j-EKwjAMhF9o68AXKrc1a8tCGprW4durIGoR_12-u-PIuasvNS7nrj3PTBHbbTpfMHJZwTPMqNmkqIgVmmwJtSvYfYjron3lbInC1LNXtEZVbFFE8pzlMPeRY-LZ29ByEd8IRtVXYjQK7r_1u5EI4eFf3HANuWsOVPzKZTvcl36_uxdprijJbBAbcQIHkjt5v3aL" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_yDst-f1qupuGidw8rYeJh97tm--lHPJyKDCN_jyBE9c.css?delta=1&language=en&theme=wfp_org&include=eJx1j-EKwjAMhF9o68AXKrc1a8tCGprW4durIGoR_12-u-PIuasvNS7nrj3PTBHbbTpfMHJZwTPMqNmkqIgVmmwJtSvYfYjron3lbInC1LNXtEZVbFFE8pzlMPeRY-LZ29ByEd8IRtVXYjQK7r_1u5EI4eFf3HANuWsOVPzKZTvcl36_uxdprijJbBAbcQIHkjt5v3aL" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Open+Sans:ital,wght@0,400;0,700;0,800;1,400;1,700;1,800&display=swap" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_jSgHoAmyKX2YWPgZPbxdaTu24hCujFU7WO1eZiP31gs.css?delta=3&language=en&theme=wfp_org&include=eJx1j-EKwjAMhF9o68AXKrc1a8tCGprW4durIGoR_12-u-PIuasvNS7nrj3PTBHbbTpfMHJZwTPMqNmkqIgVmmwJtSvYfYjron3lbInC1LNXtEZVbFFE8pzlMPeRY-LZ29ByEd8IRtVXYjQK7r_1u5EI4eFf3HANuWsOVPzKZTvcl36_uxdprijJbBAbcQIHkjt5v3aL" /> <script src="//content.jwplatform.com/libraries/i4zAEPIp.js" defer></script> </head> <body>  <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-KN3K8D" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <a href="#main-content" class="visually-hidden focusable"> Skip to main content </a> <div class="dialog-off-canvas-main-canvas" data-off-canvas-main-canvas> <header class="site-header" data-js-hook="site-header" role="banner"> <div id="block-donate-pre-header" class="block-donate block-donate--top-stripe"> <a href="https://donate.wfp.org/1243/donation/regular/?campaign=1517" target="_blank" class="button-new button-new--danger--primary button-new--featured">Donate</a> </div> <div class="site-header__wrapper wfp-wrapper"> <div class="site-header__branding"> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/" class="site-header__logo"> <img src="https://cdn.wfp.org/guides/ui/assets/v0.0.1/logos/vertical/en/wfp-logo-vertical-white-en.svg" alt="UN World Food Programme"> </a> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/" class="site-header__slogan"> Saving Lives<br>Changing Lives </a> </div> <div class="navigation-main" data-js-hook="navigation-main" data-js-navigation-area="true"> <div class="navigation-main__mobile-togglers"> <a class="search-overlay__toggler search-overlay__toggler--mobile js--fullscreen-overlay__toggler" aria-controls="search-overlay"></a> <button class="navigation-main__toggler" data-js-hook="navigation-main__toggler" aria-label="Main menu toggler" aria-controls="navigation-main__panel" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="navigation-main__toggler-label">Menu</span> <span class="navigation-main__toggler-icon"></span> </button> </div> <div id="navigation-main__panel" class="navigation-main__panel" aria-hidden="true"> <div class="navigation-main__panel-content menu-mobile"> <nav class="menu-secondary" aria-label="Secondary"> <a class="search-overlay__toggler search-overlay__toggler--desktop js--fullscreen-overlay__toggler" aria-controls="search-overlay"></a> <ul class="menu" data-js-hook="menu"> <li class="menu__item menu__item--has-children" data-js-hook="menu__panel-toggler"> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/media-and-resources" class="menu__title" aria-controls="megamenu-panel-ec647d54-13d2-4e0a-bd15-fbf26c929923" aria-expanded="false" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/26180">Media & resources</a> <div class="menu__item-panel" id="megamenu-panel-ec647d54-13d2-4e0a-bd15-fbf26c929923" aria-hidden="true"> <a class="menu__item-closer--mobile" data-js-hook="menu__panel-closer" href="#megamenu-panel-ec647d54-13d2-4e0a-bd15-fbf26c929923" aria-controls="megamenu-panel-ec647d54-13d2-4e0a-bd15-fbf26c929923" aria-expanded="false">Back</a> <div class="menu__item-intro"> <h2 class="menu__item-intro-title">Media & resources</h2> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/media-and-resources" class="button-new button-new--primary">Read more</a> </div> <ul class="menu__submenu"> <li class="menu__submenu-item"> <ul class="menu__submenu-list"> <li> <h6 class="menu__submenu-title">Media centre</h6> <ul class="menu__submenu-list menu__submenu-list--under-title"> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/news" data-drupal-link-system-path="news">News releases</a></li> <li><a href="https://multimedia.wfp.org/" target="_blank">Multimedia content</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/videos" data-drupal-link-system-path="videos">Videos for the media</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/media-contacts" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1455">Media contacts</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu__submenu-item"> <ul class="menu__submenu-list"> <li> <h6 class="menu__submenu-title">Resources & data</h6> <ul class="menu__submenu-list menu__submenu-list--under-title"> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/stories" data-drupal-link-system-path="stories">Stories</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/publications" data-drupal-link-system-path="publications">Publications</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/annual-country-reports-2023" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/28871">Annual Country Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://dataviz.vam.wfp.org/" target="_blank">Food security analysis</a></li> <li><a href="https://hungermap.wfp.org/" target="_blank">HungerMap LIVE</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <a class="menu__item-closer--desktop" data-js-hook="menu__panel-closer" href="#megamenu-panel-ec647d54-13d2-4e0a-bd15-fbf26c929923" aria-controls="megamenu-panel-ec647d54-13d2-4e0a-bd15-fbf26c929923" aria-expanded="false" role="button"> <img src="/themes/custom/wfp_org/templates/patterns/menu/images/close--black.svg" alt="Close menu panel"> </a> </div> </li> </ul> <ul class="menu menu--language-switcher" data-js-hook="menu" data-internal-element-name="language-switcher"> <li class="menu__item menu__item--has-children" data-js-hook="menu__panel-toggler"> <a class="menu__title" href="#languages-megamenu-panel-ef4ff710-37c6-4992-828a-232cc11d0728" aria-controls="languages-megamenu-panel-ef4ff710-37c6-4992-828a-232cc11d0728" aria-expanded="false" data-internal-element-name="language-switcher--active-lang">English</a> <div class="menu__item-panel" id="languages-megamenu-panel-ef4ff710-37c6-4992-828a-232cc11d0728" aria-hidden="true"> <a class="menu__item-closer--mobile" data-js-hook="menu__panel-closer" href="#languages-megamenu-panel-ef4ff710-37c6-4992-828a-232cc11d0728" aria-controls="languages-megamenu-panel-ef4ff710-37c6-4992-828a-232cc11d0728" aria-expanded="false">Back</a> <div class="menu__item-intro"> <h2 class="menu__item-intro-title">Languages</h2> </div> <ul class="menu__submenu menu__submenu--language-links" data-internal-element-name="language-switcher--links"> <li class="menu__submenu-item"> <ul class="menu__submenu-list"> <li> <a href="https://fr.wfp.org/systemes-alimentaires" class="language-link" hreflang="fr" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1202">Français</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://es.wfp.org/sistemas-alimentarios" class="language-link" hreflang="es" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1202">Español</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://ar.wfp.org/food-systems" class="language-link" hreflang="ar" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1202">العربية</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://zh.wfp.org/food-systems" class="language-link" hreflang="zh-hans" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1202">简体中文</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://fa.wfp.org/node/1202" class="language-link" hreflang="fa" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1202">فارسی</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://de.wfp.org/ernaehrungssysteme" class="language-link" hreflang="de" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1202">Deutsch</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://it.wfp.org/sistemi-alimentari" class="language-link" hreflang="it" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1202">Italiano</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://ja.wfp.org/food-systems" class="language-link" hreflang="ja" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1202">日本語</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://ko.wfp.org/node/1202" class="language-link" hreflang="ko" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1202">한국어</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://ru.wfp.org/food-systems" class="language-link" hreflang="ru" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1202">Русский</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </li> </ul> </nav> <nav class="menu-primary" aria-label="Main"> <ul class="menu" data-js-hook="menu"> <li class="menu__item menu__item--has-children" data-js-hook="menu__panel-toggler"> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/who-we-are" class="menu__title" aria-controls="megamenu-panel-a427ca54-030f-42ad-836a-718ee1ec810a" aria-expanded="false" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/24378">Who we are</a> <div class="menu__item-panel" id="megamenu-panel-a427ca54-030f-42ad-836a-718ee1ec810a" aria-hidden="true"> <a class="menu__item-closer--mobile" data-js-hook="menu__panel-closer" href="#megamenu-panel-a427ca54-030f-42ad-836a-718ee1ec810a" aria-controls="megamenu-panel-a427ca54-030f-42ad-836a-718ee1ec810a" aria-expanded="false">Back</a> <div class="menu__item-intro"> <h2 class="menu__item-intro-title">Who we are</h2> <div class="menu__item-intro-text"> <p>We bring life-saving relief in emergencies and use food assistance to build peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.</p> </div> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/who-we-are" class="button-new button-new--primary" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/24378">Read more</a> </div> <ul class="menu__submenu"> <li class="menu__submenu-item"> <ul class="menu__submenu-list"> <li> <h6 class="menu__submenu-title">About</h6> <ul class="menu__submenu-list menu__submenu-list--under-title"> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/who-we-are" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/24378">Who we are</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/history" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/60">History</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/governance-and-leadership" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/276">Governance and leadership</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/publications/wfp-strategic-plan-2022-25" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/26341">Strategic Plan</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/funding-and-donors" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/278">Funding and donors</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu__submenu-item"> <ul class="menu__submenu-list"> <li> <h6 class="menu__submenu-title">Transparency and accountability</h6> <ul class="menu__submenu-list menu__submenu-list--under-title"> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/ethical-culture" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/22701">Ethical culture</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/independent-evaluation" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/28889">Independent evaluation</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/internal-audit-investigations" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1174">Internal audit and investigations</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/performance-management-accountability" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/22266">Performance management and accountability</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu__submenu-item"> <ul class="menu__submenu-list"> <li> <h6 class="menu__submenu-title">Partnerships</h6> <ul class="menu__submenu-list menu__submenu-list--under-title"> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/get-involved" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/26174">Our partners</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <a class="menu__item-closer--desktop" data-js-hook="menu__panel-closer" href="#megamenu-panel-a427ca54-030f-42ad-836a-718ee1ec810a" aria-controls="megamenu-panel-a427ca54-030f-42ad-836a-718ee1ec810a" aria-expanded="false" role="button"> <img src="/themes/custom/wfp_org/templates/patterns/menu/images/close--black.svg" alt="Close menu panel"> </a> </div> </li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--has-children" data-js-hook="menu__panel-toggler"> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/our-work" class="menu__title" aria-controls="megamenu-panel-a427ca54-030f-42ad-836a-718ee1ec810a--2" aria-expanded="false" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/25697">Our work</a> <div class="menu__item-panel" id="megamenu-panel-a427ca54-030f-42ad-836a-718ee1ec810a--2" aria-hidden="true"> <a class="menu__item-closer--mobile" data-js-hook="menu__panel-closer" href="#megamenu-panel-a427ca54-030f-42ad-836a-718ee1ec810a--2" aria-controls="megamenu-panel-a427ca54-030f-42ad-836a-718ee1ec810a--2" aria-expanded="false">Back</a> <div class="menu__item-intro"> <h2 class="menu__item-intro-title">Our work</h2> <div class="menu__item-intro-text"> <p>We span a broad range of activities, bringing life-saving assistance in emergencies and supporting sustainable and resilient livelihoods to achieve a world with zero hunger.</p> </div> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/our-work" class="button-new button-new--primary" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/25697">Read more</a> </div> <ul class="menu__submenu"> <li class="menu__submenu-item"> <ul class="menu__submenu-list"> <li> <h6 class="menu__submenu-title">About hunger</h6> <ul class="menu__submenu-list menu__submenu-list--under-title"> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/ending-hunger" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/24833">Ending hunger</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/conflict-and-hunger" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/23013">Conflict and hunger</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/global-hunger-crisis" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/27985">A global food crisis</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/sdgs" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/24387">WFP and the SDGs</a></li> </ul> </li> <li> <h6 class="menu__submenu-title">Saving lives</h6> <ul class="menu__submenu-list menu__submenu-list--under-title"> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergency-relief" target="_self" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6">Emergency relief</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/food-assistance" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/3">Food assistance</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/humanitarian-support-and-services" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/8">Humanitarian support and services</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/supply-chain" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/40">Supply chain</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu__submenu-item"> <ul class="menu__submenu-list"> <li> <h6 class="menu__submenu-title">Changing lives</h6> <ul class="menu__submenu-list menu__submenu-list--under-title"> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/food-assistance-for-assets" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/49">Asset creation</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/supply-chain-for-cash-transfers" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/57">Cash and market support</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/climate-action" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/22">Climate action</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/ending-malnutrition" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/26">Ending malnutrition</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/food-systems" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1202" class="is-active" aria-current="page">Food systems</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/gender-equality" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/25">Gender equality</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/resilience-building" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/16">Resilience building</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/school-meals" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/32">School-based programmes</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/smallholder-market-support" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/21">Smallholder farmers support</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/sustainable-livelihoods-and-ecosystems" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/20">Sustainable livelihoods and ecosystems</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu__submenu-item"> <ul class="menu__submenu-list"> <li> <h6 class="menu__submenu-title">Supporting governments</h6> <ul class="menu__submenu-list menu__submenu-list--under-title"> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/country-capacity-strengthening" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/34">Country capacity strengthening</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/social-protection" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/24">Social protection</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/south-south-cooperation" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/18">South-South cooperation</a></li> </ul> </li> <li> <h6 class="menu__submenu-title">Innovation and digital transformation</h6> <ul class="menu__submenu-list menu__submenu-list--under-title"> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/innovation" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1295">Innovation and technology</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <a class="menu__item-closer--desktop" data-js-hook="menu__panel-closer" href="#megamenu-panel-a427ca54-030f-42ad-836a-718ee1ec810a--2" aria-controls="megamenu-panel-a427ca54-030f-42ad-836a-718ee1ec810a--2" aria-expanded="false" role="button"> <img src="/themes/custom/wfp_org/templates/patterns/menu/images/close--black.svg" alt="Close menu panel"> </a> </div> </li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--has-children" data-js-hook="menu__panel-toggler"> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries" class="menu__title" aria-controls="megamenu-panel-a427ca54-030f-42ad-836a-718ee1ec810a--3" aria-expanded="false" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/25535">Where we work</a> <div class="menu__item-panel" id="megamenu-panel-a427ca54-030f-42ad-836a-718ee1ec810a--3" aria-hidden="true"> <a class="menu__item-closer--mobile" data-js-hook="menu__panel-closer" href="#megamenu-panel-a427ca54-030f-42ad-836a-718ee1ec810a--3" aria-controls="megamenu-panel-a427ca54-030f-42ad-836a-718ee1ec810a--3" aria-expanded="false">Back</a> <div class="menu__item-intro"> <h2 class="menu__item-intro-title">Where we work</h2> <div class="menu__item-intro-text"> <p>We work in over 120 countries and territories, combining emergency assistance with long-term development while adapting our activities to the context and challenges of each location and its people.</p> </div> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries" class="button-new button-new--primary" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/25535">Read more</a> </div> <ul class="menu__submenu--where-we-work menu__submenu"> <li class="menu__submenu-item--countries menu__submenu-item"> <ul class="menu__submenu-list"> <li> <h6 class="menu__submenu-title">Countries</h6> <ul class="menu__submenu-list menu__submenu-list--under-title"> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/afghanistan" hreflang="en">Afghanistan</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/algeria" hreflang="en">Algeria</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/angola" hreflang="en">Angola</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/armenia" hreflang="en">Armenia</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/bangladesh" hreflang="en">Bangladesh</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/benin" hreflang="en">Benin</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/bhutan" hreflang="en">Bhutan</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/bolivia-plurinational-state" hreflang="en">Bolivia</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/burkina-faso" hreflang="en">Burkina Faso</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/burundi" hreflang="en">Burundi</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/cambodia" hreflang="en">Cambodia</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/cameroon" hreflang="en">Cameroon</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/caribbean" hreflang="en">The Caribbean</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/central-african-republic" hreflang="en">Central African Republic</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/chad" hreflang="en">Chad</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/china" hreflang="en">China</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/colombia" hreflang="en">Colombia</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/congo" hreflang="en">Congo</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/cuba" hreflang="en">Cuba</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/cote-divoire" hreflang="en">Côte d'Ivoire</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/democratic-republic-congo" hreflang="en">Democratic Republic of the Congo</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/djibouti" hreflang="en">Djibouti</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/dominican-republic" hreflang="en">Dominican Republic</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/democratic-peoples-republic-korea" hreflang="en">DPR Korea</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/ecuador" hreflang="en">Ecuador</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/egypt" hreflang="en">Egypt</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/el-salvador" hreflang="en">El Salvador</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/eswatini" hreflang="en">Eswatini</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/ethiopia" hreflang="en">Ethiopia</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/gambia" hreflang="en">Gambia</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/ghana" hreflang="en">Ghana</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/guatemala" hreflang="en">Guatemala</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/guinea" hreflang="en">Guinea</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/guinea-bissau" hreflang="en">Guinea-Bissau</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/haiti" hreflang="en">Haiti</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/honduras" hreflang="en">Honduras</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/india" hreflang="en">India</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/indonesia" hreflang="en">Indonesia</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/iran-islamic-republic" hreflang="en">Iran</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/iraq" hreflang="en">Iraq</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/jordan" hreflang="en">Jordan</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/kenya" hreflang="en">Kenya</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/kyrgyz-republic" hreflang="en">Kyrgyz Republic</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/lao-peoples-democratic-republic" hreflang="en">Laos</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/lebanon" hreflang="en">Lebanon</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/lesotho" hreflang="en">Lesotho</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/liberia" hreflang="en">Liberia</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/libya" hreflang="en">Libya</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/madagascar" hreflang="en">Madagascar</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/malawi" hreflang="en">Malawi</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/mali" hreflang="en">Mali</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/mauritania" hreflang="en">Mauritania</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/moldova" hreflang="en">Moldova</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/mozambique" hreflang="en">Mozambique</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/myanmar" hreflang="en">Myanmar</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/namibia" hreflang="en">Namibia</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/nepal" hreflang="en">Nepal</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/nicaragua" hreflang="en">Nicaragua</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/niger" hreflang="en">Niger</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/nigeria" hreflang="en">Nigeria</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/pacific" hreflang="en">The Pacific</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/pakistan" hreflang="en">Pakistan</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/palestine" hreflang="en">Palestine</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/peru" hreflang="en">Peru</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/philippines" hreflang="en">Philippines</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/rwanda" hreflang="en">Rwanda</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/sao-tome-and-principe" hreflang="en">Sao Tome and Principe</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/senegal" hreflang="en">Senegal</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/sierra-leone" hreflang="en">Sierra Leone</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/somalia" hreflang="en">Somalia</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/south-sudan" hreflang="en">South Sudan</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/sri-lanka" hreflang="en">Sri Lanka</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/sudan" hreflang="en">Sudan</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/syrian-arab-republic" hreflang="en">Syria</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/tajikistan" hreflang="en">Tajikistan</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/tanzania" hreflang="en">Tanzania</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/timor-leste" hreflang="en">Timor-Leste</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/togo" hreflang="en">Togo</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/tunisia" hreflang="en">Tunisia</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/turkiye" hreflang="en">Türkiye</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/uganda" hreflang="en">Uganda</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/ukraine" hreflang="en">Ukraine</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/venezuela-bolivarian-republic" hreflang="en">Venezuela</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/yemen" hreflang="en">Yemen</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/zambia" hreflang="en">Zambia</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/countries/zimbabwe" hreflang="en">Zimbabwe</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu__submenu-item--emergencies menu__submenu-item"> <ul class="menu__submenu-list"> <li> <h6 class="menu__submenu-title">Emergencies</h6> <ul class="menu__submenu-list menu__submenu-list--under-title"> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/afghanistan-emergency" hreflang="en">Afghanistan</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/sahel-emergency" hreflang="en">Central Sahel</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/drc-emergency" hreflang="en">Democratic Republic of the Congo</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/ethiopia-emergency" hreflang="en">Ethiopia</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/haiti-emergency" hreflang="en">Haiti</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/lebanon" hreflang="en">Lebanon</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/northern-mozambique-emergency" hreflang="en">Mozambique</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/myanmar-emergency" hreflang="en">Myanmar</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/nigeria-emergency" hreflang="en">North Eastern Nigeria</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/somalia-emergency" hreflang="en">Somalia</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/southern-africa-drought" hreflang="en">Southern Africa Drought</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/south-sudan-emergency" hreflang="en">South Sudan</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/palestine-emergency" hreflang="en">State of Palestine</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/sudan-emergency" hreflang="en">Sudan</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/syria-emergency" hreflang="en">Syria</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/ukraine-emergency" hreflang="en">Ukraine</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/yemen-emergency" hreflang="en">Yemen</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <a class="menu__item-closer--desktop" data-js-hook="menu__panel-closer" href="#megamenu-panel-a427ca54-030f-42ad-836a-718ee1ec810a--3" aria-controls="megamenu-panel-a427ca54-030f-42ad-836a-718ee1ec810a--3" aria-expanded="false" role="button"> <img src="/themes/custom/wfp_org/templates/patterns/menu/images/close--black.svg" alt="Close menu panel"> </a> </div> </li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--has-children" data-js-hook="menu__panel-toggler"> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/get-involved" class="menu__title" aria-controls="megamenu-panel-a427ca54-030f-42ad-836a-718ee1ec810a--4" aria-expanded="false" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/26174">Get involved</a> <div class="menu__item-panel" id="megamenu-panel-a427ca54-030f-42ad-836a-718ee1ec810a--4" aria-hidden="true"> <a class="menu__item-closer--mobile" data-js-hook="menu__panel-closer" href="#megamenu-panel-a427ca54-030f-42ad-836a-718ee1ec810a--4" aria-controls="megamenu-panel-a427ca54-030f-42ad-836a-718ee1ec810a--4" aria-expanded="false">Back</a> <div class="menu__item-intro"> <h2 class="menu__item-intro-title">Get involved</h2> <div class="menu__item-intro-text"> <p>There is a variety of ways in which people can support WFP’s mission to eliminate hunger, from making a donation to bringing your expertise to our work on the frontlines.</p> </div> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/get-involved" class="button-new button-new--primary" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/26174">Read more</a> </div> <ul class="menu__submenu"> <li class="menu__submenu-item"> <ul class="menu__submenu-list"> <li> <h6 class="menu__submenu-title">Individual supporters</h6> <ul class="menu__submenu-list menu__submenu-list--under-title"> <li><a href="https://donate.wfp.org/1243/donation/regular/?campaign=1517" target="_blank">Donate</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/support-us" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/21798">Support us</a></li> <li><a href="https://freerice.com/" target="_blank">Play Freerice</a></li> <li><a href="https://sharethemeal.org/" target="_blank">ShareTheMeal app</a></li> </ul> </li> <li> <h6 class="menu__submenu-title">Companies and start-ups</h6> <ul class="menu__submenu-list menu__submenu-list--under-title"> <li><a href="https://innovation.wfp.org/apply" target="_blank">Apply for the Innovation Challenge</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu__submenu-item"> <ul class="menu__submenu-list"> <li> <h6 class="menu__submenu-title">Partners</h6> <ul class="menu__submenu-list menu__submenu-list--under-title"> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/governments" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/279">Governments</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/non-governmental-organizations" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/272">Non-governmental organizations</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/private-sector" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/280">Private sector</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/un-agencies-and-international-institutions" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/281">UN agencies and international institutions</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/clusters-and-multistakeholder-partnerships" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/282">Clusters and multistakeholder partnerships</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/academia-and-think-tanks" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/283">Academia and think tanks</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/goodwill-ambassadors" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/25553">Goodwill ambassadors, advocates and high-level supporters</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <a class="menu__item-closer--desktop" data-js-hook="menu__panel-closer" href="#megamenu-panel-a427ca54-030f-42ad-836a-718ee1ec810a--4" aria-controls="megamenu-panel-a427ca54-030f-42ad-836a-718ee1ec810a--4" aria-expanded="false" role="button"> <img src="/themes/custom/wfp_org/templates/patterns/menu/images/close--black.svg" alt="Close menu panel"> </a> </div> </li> </ul> </nav> <nav class="menu-tertiary" aria-label="Tertiary"> <div id="block-donate" class="block-donate block-donate--header"> <a href="https://donate.wfp.org/1243/donation/regular/?campaign=1517" target="_blank" class="button-new button-new--danger--primary button-new--featured">Donate</a> </div> </nav> </div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <main id="main-content"> <div class="wfp-band"> <div class="wfp-wrapper wfp-grid pv1 ph2 ph0-lg"> <div class="wfp-u-1-1 wfp-u-md-2-3"> <nav class="wfp-breadcrumbs"> <ol class="breadcrumbs--wrapper"> <li class="breadcrumbs--item"> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/" class="breadcrumbs--link home"> <span class="icon-home-dark xsmall"></span><span>Home</span> </a> </li> <li class="breadcrumbs--item"><span class="breadcrumbs--last">Food systems </span> </li> </ol> </nav> </div> <div class="wfp-u-2-3 wfp-u-md-1-3 wfp-text-right"> </div> </div> </div> <section> <div class="wfp-u-1 layout-content page-body"> <div> <div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div> <div class="node node--type-thematic-page node--view-mode-full"> <div class="field field--field-paragraph-hero"> <div> <section class="page-header-2 page-header-2--bg-grey-light" role="banner"> <div class="wfp-wrapper ph3 ph0-lg"> <div class="page-header-2__grid"> <div class="page-header-2__header"> <h1 class="page-header-2__title">Food systems</h1> </div> <div class="page-header-2__video"> <section class="page--video bg-grey-2 w-100"> <div class="tc video"> <div class="video-player" data-accessibility-title="Video" data-type="jwplayer" data-id="r9mBDJfn" data-extension="mp4" data-size="720"></div> </div> </section> </div> <div class="page-header-2__stats"> <dl> <dt>Up to 783 million</dt> <dd>hungry people </dd> <dt>1.26 billion </dt> <dd>people could be fed with the food lost and wasted each year</dd> </dl> </div> <div class="page-header-2__actions"> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="columns wfp-wrapper ph3 ph0-lg"> <div class="columns__main"> <div class="field field--field-paragraph-description wfp-wrapper"> <div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type-rich-text paragraph--view-mode-full"> <div class="field field--field-rich-text wfp-wrapper clearfix"> <div class="field-rich-text--container mv4 mv5-lg"> <div> <h4>What are food systems?</h4> <p>Food systems are the <strong>networks needed to produce and transform food, and ensure it reaches consumers.</strong></p> <p>Improving the performance and resilience of global food systems, and their ability to cater for all who rely on them, will be key to reaching zero hunger.</p> <h4>Why are food systems not working?</h4> <p>A toxic mix of factors mean food systems are not meeting the needs of large sections of society, as shown by the fact that up to <strong><a href="https://www.wfp.org/global-hunger-crisis">783 million people are chronically hungry across the world</a>.</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.wfp.org/conflict-and-hunger"><strong>Conflict forces people from their land and wrecks agriculture and infrastructure</strong></a> – blighting food production and distribution, severely disrupting markets and driving up prices. At the same time, unsustainable management of natural resources reduces the world’s capacity to produce food and exacerbates the<strong> </strong><a href="https://www.wfp.org/climate-action"><strong>impact of climate shocks</strong></a>. Up to 40 percent of the world’s land is degraded, with a serious impact on food production.</p> <p><strong>Major disruptions in global markets </strong>have highlighted vulnerabilities and inequalities in recent years. Low-income countries devote over a third of their merchandise export revenue to food imports, more than five times that of developed economies. This makes them extremely vulnerable when <strong>shocks such as COVID-19 and the</strong> <strong>war in Ukraine</strong> damage the supply of goods – disproportionally affecting their food security and reversing development gains. </p> <h4>What other factors are behind failing food systems?</h4> <p><strong>Most hungry, poor people are isolated </strong>– geographically, economically, socially and politically – and hard to reach. Even when nutritious food is available, it is often too expensive. When crops fail, or between harvests, poor families lack the resources to meet their food needs. They are forced to eat less, and less nutritious, food.</p> <p>Even in a plentiful harvest,<strong> </strong>inadequate capacity to<strong> store, market and transport food </strong>means farmers cannot sell for the best price when demand is highest, food is wasted and spoiled, and market volatility is sharpened.</p> <p><a href="https://www.wfp.org/gender-equality"><strong>These issues</strong></a><strong><a href="https://www.wfp.org/gender-equality"> tend to affect women more</a></strong>, partly because they may already have more limited involvement in food markets, and may be excluded from decision-making processes.</p> <h4>What is WFP’s role in transforming food systems to help end hunger?</h4> <p>Our experience of buying and distributing food in over 100 countries means we are well placed to help overcome the challenges facing food systems and to make them more sustainable.</p> <p>Our partnerships, programmes and capacities stretch across food systems, and are especially strong at the stage where food is transported, stored, handled, processed, wholesaled and retailed.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://www.wfp.org/smallholder-market-support">We train smallholder farmers</a></strong> in areas including good agricultural practices, post-harvest management, and business and marketing skills. We also connect them to input suppliers, financial service providers and buyers of their produce, including increased opportunities for connections in urban areas where the majority of people now live.    </p> <p><strong>We place emphasis on sourcing food locally,</strong> from general food assistance to our school meals.<strong> </strong>This increases production for farmers, boosts supply and demand, and adds to agro-biodiversity. This all helps to regenerate local food systems. WFP is the largest <a href="https://www.wfp.org/cash-transfers">cash provider</a> in the humanitarian community. This increases people’s spending power and further stimulates local markets.</p> <p>Among other activities, <strong>fortification helps communities access locally produced, nutritious food</strong>, while the creation and <strong>rehabilitation of infrastructure </strong>in exchange for food or cash-based assistance can include production, storage and transport facilities. We further work with governments in <strong>strengthening public food reserves.</strong></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="columns__side"> </div> </div> <div class="field field--field-paragraphs"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type-card-links-featured paragraph--view-mode-full wfp-wrapper mv4 mv5-lg"> <h2 class="page-stripe__title">In focus</h2> <section class="explore-new"> <div class="explore-new__wrapper wfp-wrapper ph3 ph0-lg"> <article class="explore-new__item"> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/stories/cuba-rethinking-farming-face-climate-crisis" title="Cuba: rethinking farming to face the climate crisis "> <div class="explore-new__item-image"> <div style="background-image: url('https://www.wfp.org/sites/default/files/styles/card_featured/public/2024-03/WFP-Cuba-farmers-resilience_0.jpg?itok=_GygTAnN')"></div> </div> <div class="explore-new__item-text"> <h2 class="explore-new__item-title">Cuba: rethinking farming to face the climate crisis </h2> <p class="explore-new__item-info"><strong>Story</strong><span class="explore-new__item-info-date"> | 26 March 2024</span></p> </div> </a> </article> <article class="explore-new__item"> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/stories/afro-descendant-indigenous-communities-colombia-ecuador-border-join-forces-adapt-climate" title="Afro-descendant, Indigenous communities on Colombia-Ecuador border join forces to adapt to climate change"> <div class="explore-new__item-image"> <div style="background-image: url('https://www.wfp.org/sites/default/files/styles/card_featured/public/2024-03/WFP-Colombia-Ecuador-reforestation.jpg?itok=la_9yZMH')"></div> </div> <div class="explore-new__item-text"> <h2 class="explore-new__item-title">Afro-descendant, Indigenous communities on Colombia-Ecuador border join forces to adapt to climate change</h2> <p class="explore-new__item-info"><strong>Story</strong><span class="explore-new__item-info-date"> | 20 March 2024</span></p> </div> </a> </article> <article class="explore-new__item"> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/stories/watch-how-school-meals-are-empowering-women-who-make-them-sri-lanka" title="Watch: How school meals are empowering the women who make them in Sri Lanka"> <div class="explore-new__item-image"> <div style="background-image: url('https://www.wfp.org/sites/default/files/styles/card_featured/public/2024-03/Capture.JPG?itok=mBrP3yl_')"></div> </div> <div class="explore-new__item-text"> <h2 class="explore-new__item-title">Watch: How school meals are empowering the women who make them in Sri Lanka</h2> <p class="explore-new__item-info"><strong>Story</strong><span class="explore-new__item-info-date"> | 13 March 2024</span></p> </div> </a> </article> <article class="explore-new__item"> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/stories/how-loans-wfp-are-growing-prospects-women-farmers-rwanda" title="How loans from WFP are growing prospects for women farmers in Rwanda"> <div class="explore-new__item-image"> <div style="background-image: url('https://www.wfp.org/sites/default/files/styles/card_featured/public/2024-03/WFP_Rwanda_4W8A2188%20%281%29.jpg?itok=Cfx68rM1')"></div> </div> <div class="explore-new__item-text"> <h2 class="explore-new__item-title">How loans from WFP are growing prospects for women farmers in Rwanda</h2> <p class="explore-new__item-info"><strong>Story</strong><span class="explore-new__item-info-date"> | 7 March 2024</span></p> </div> </a> </article> <article class="explore-new__item"> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/stories/everything-you-need-know-about-food-systems-how-they-can-avert-famine-and-help-end-hunger" title="Everything you need to know about food systems" target="_blank"> <div class="explore-new__item-image"> <div style="background-image: url('https://www.wfp.org/sites/default/files/styles/card_featured/public/images/918E29E1-9F85-4DF4-B444-F330F8E1EE6D.jpeg?itok=wDmktJMs')"></div> </div> <div class="explore-new__item-text"> <h2 class="explore-new__item-title">Everything you need to know about food systems</h2> <p class="explore-new__item-info"><strong>Story</strong><span class="explore-new__item-info-date"> | 23 July 2021</span></p> </div> </a> </article> </div> </section> </div> <div class="wfp-wrapper mv4 mv5-lg ph3 ph0-lg"> <div class="field field--field-content-multiple"> <h2 class="page-stripe__title">Publications</h2> <div class="grid-up-to-3cols"> <article class="publication-teaser-related"> <a class="publication-teaser-related__link" href="https://www.wfp.org/publications/investing-ukraines-economy-and-food-systems-factsheet-january-2025"> <div class="publication-teaser-related__text"> <h3 class="publication-teaser-related__title"> Investing in Ukraine's economy and food systems (factsheet) - January 2025 </h3> <span class="publication-teaser-related__metadata"> <time datetime="2025-02-18T12:00:00Z">18 February 2025</time> </span> </div> <div class="publication-teaser-related__cover"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/max_size_110x110/public/publication_covers/1179139dc4ae47edd4a1ccbf3cd0488a.jpg?itok=DOjmCXIp 78w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_size_220x220/public/publication_covers/1179139dc4ae47edd4a1ccbf3cd0488a.jpg?itok=kPIdDQX1 155w" sizes="110px" width="155" height="220" src="/sites/default/files/styles/max_size_110x110/public/publication_covers/1179139dc4ae47edd4a1ccbf3cd0488a.jpg?itok=DOjmCXIp" alt="https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000164606/download/" /> </div> </a> </article> <article class="publication-teaser-related"> <a class="publication-teaser-related__link" href="https://www.wfp.org/publications/wfps-updated-climate-change-policy-2024"> <div class="publication-teaser-related__text"> <h3 class="publication-teaser-related__title"> WFP’s Updated Climate Change Policy - 2024 </h3> <span class="publication-teaser-related__metadata"> <time datetime="2025-01-28T12:00:00Z">28 January 2025</time> </span> </div> <div class="publication-teaser-related__cover"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/max_size_110x110/public/publication_covers/d0d92cda5044c90aa1df746866e50815.jpg?itok=1RP7HfD8 78w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_size_220x220/public/publication_covers/d0d92cda5044c90aa1df746866e50815.jpg?itok=tlQFMckP 155w" sizes="110px" width="155" height="220" src="/sites/default/files/styles/max_size_110x110/public/publication_covers/d0d92cda5044c90aa1df746866e50815.jpg?itok=1RP7HfD8" alt="https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000163996/download/" /> </div> </a> </article> <article class="publication-teaser-related"> <a class="publication-teaser-related__link" href="https://www.wfp.org/publications/wfps-updated-resilience-policy-2024"> <div class="publication-teaser-related__text"> <h3 class="publication-teaser-related__title"> WFP’s Updated Resilience Policy - 2024 </h3> <span class="publication-teaser-related__metadata"> <time datetime="2025-01-28T12:00:00Z">28 January 2025</time> </span> </div> <div class="publication-teaser-related__cover"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/max_size_110x110/public/publication_covers/905392c8f206c126022f0c9bdf2b984c.jpg?itok=CpENvtr8 78w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_size_220x220/public/publication_covers/905392c8f206c126022f0c9bdf2b984c.jpg?itok=IPKZ_eJ2 155w" sizes="110px" width="155" height="220" src="/sites/default/files/styles/max_size_110x110/public/publication_covers/905392c8f206c126022f0c9bdf2b984c.jpg?itok=CpENvtr8" alt="https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000163998/download/" /> </div> </a> </article> <article class="publication-teaser-related"> <a class="publication-teaser-related__link" href="https://www.wfp.org/publications/feeding-health-last-mile-hiv-wfps-global-strategy-2025-2030"> <div class="publication-teaser-related__text"> <h3 class="publication-teaser-related__title"> Feeding Health, the last mile on HIV - WFP’s global strategy 2025 - 2030 </h3> <span class="publication-teaser-related__metadata"> <time datetime="2025-01-14T12:00:00Z">14 January 2025</time> </span> </div> <div class="publication-teaser-related__cover"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/max_size_110x110/public/publication_covers/0fe4d3548e15fa3809845a17fa91256c.jpg?itok=ASmNSyKA 78w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_size_220x220/public/publication_covers/0fe4d3548e15fa3809845a17fa91256c.jpg?itok=145xtqVZ 155w" sizes="110px" width="155" height="220" src="/sites/default/files/styles/max_size_110x110/public/publication_covers/0fe4d3548e15fa3809845a17fa91256c.jpg?itok=ASmNSyKA" alt="https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000163858/download/" /> </div> </a> </article> <article class="publication-teaser-related"> <a class="publication-teaser-related__link" href="https://www.wfp.org/publications/wfps-updated-school-meals-policy-november-2024"> <div class="publication-teaser-related__text"> <h3 class="publication-teaser-related__title"> WFP’s Updated School Meals Policy - November 2024 </h3> <span class="publication-teaser-related__metadata"> <time datetime="2025-01-07T12:00:00Z">7 January 2025</time> </span> </div> <div class="publication-teaser-related__cover"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/max_size_110x110/public/publication_covers/0465dcb4922f903fa073a2916e23935d.jpg?itok=np_duDqA 78w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_size_220x220/public/publication_covers/0465dcb4922f903fa073a2916e23935d.jpg?itok=m4ukDDPV 155w" sizes="110px" width="155" height="220" src="/sites/default/files/styles/max_size_110x110/public/publication_covers/0465dcb4922f903fa073a2916e23935d.jpg?itok=np_duDqA" alt="https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000163758/download/" /> </div> </a> </article> <article class="publication-teaser-related"> <a class="publication-teaser-related__link" href="https://www.wfp.org/publications/unlocking-sustainable-solutions-through-systems-thinking-cases-southern-africa"> <div class="publication-teaser-related__text"> <h3 class="publication-teaser-related__title"> Unlocking Sustainable Solutions through Systems Thinking: Cases from Southern Africa </h3> <span class="publication-teaser-related__metadata"> <time datetime="2024-12-19T12:00:00Z">19 December 2024</time> </span> </div> <div class="publication-teaser-related__cover"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/max_size_110x110/public/publication_covers/95bb14b4b397f6d2da28eaaa472e315d.jpg?itok=-2u5mC30 78w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_size_220x220/public/publication_covers/95bb14b4b397f6d2da28eaaa472e315d.jpg?itok=-eB837rC 155w" sizes="110px" width="155" height="220" src="/sites/default/files/styles/max_size_110x110/public/publication_covers/95bb14b4b397f6d2da28eaaa472e315d.jpg?itok=-2u5mC30" alt="https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000163536/download/" /> </div> </a> </article> </div> </div> <div class="tc mb4"> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/publications?f%5B0%5D=topics%3A2222" class="button-new">Show more</a> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type-page-links paragraph--view-mode-full mv4 mv5-lg"> <section class="page-links"> <h2 class="page-stripe__title page-links__title">Related topics</h2> <nav class="page-links__wrapper wfp-wrapper ph3 ph0-lg"> <ul class="page-links__items"> <li class="page-links__item"> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/resilience-building"> <h3 class="page-links__item-title">Resilience building </h3> <p>Building the capacity of communities potentially exposed to hazards to resist, adapt and recover</p> </a> </li> <li class="page-links__item"> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/climate-action"> <h3 class="page-links__item-title">Climate action</h3> <p>Taking urgent action to tackle climate change and its impacts</p> </a> </li> <li class="page-links__item"> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/supply-chain"> <h3 class="page-links__item-title">Supply chain</h3> <p>End to end planning, sourcing and delivery of assistance</p> </a> </li> <li class="page-links__item"> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/smallholder-market-support"> <h3 class="page-links__item-title">Smallholder market support</h3> <p>Demand-side market access support to smallholder farmers</p> </a> </li> <li class="page-links__item"> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/ending-malnutrition"> <h3 class="page-links__item-title">Nutrition</h3> <p>Ensuring not just access to food, but good nutrition</p> </a> </li> <li class="page-links__item"> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/gender-equality"> <h3 class="page-links__item-title">Gender equality</h3> <p>Promoting equal opportunities, equal access to resources, and equal voice in the decisions</p> </a> </li> </ul> </nav> </section> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </main> <div> <div id="block-emergency"> <script src="//cdn.wfp.org/ew/ew-en.js"></script> </div> <div id="block-footer"> <footer class="site-footer" role="contentinfo"> <div class="wfp-wrapper ph3 ph0-lg"> <section class="site-footer__emergencies"> <h2>Emergencies</h2> <ul><li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/afghanistan-emergency" hreflang="en">Afghanistan</a></li><li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/sahel-emergency" hreflang="en">Central Sahel</a></li><li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/drc-emergency" hreflang="en">Democratic Republic of the Congo</a></li><li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/ethiopia-emergency" hreflang="en">Ethiopia</a></li><li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/haiti-emergency" hreflang="en">Haiti</a></li><li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/lebanon" hreflang="en">Lebanon</a></li><li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/northern-mozambique-emergency" hreflang="en">Mozambique</a></li><li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/myanmar-emergency" hreflang="en">Myanmar</a></li><li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/nigeria-emergency" hreflang="en">North Eastern Nigeria</a></li><li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/somalia-emergency" hreflang="en">Somalia</a></li><li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/southern-africa-drought" hreflang="en">Southern Africa Drought</a></li><li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/south-sudan-emergency" hreflang="en">South Sudan</a></li><li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/palestine-emergency" hreflang="en">State of Palestine</a></li><li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/sudan-emergency" hreflang="en">Sudan</a></li><li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/syria-emergency" hreflang="en">Syria</a></li><li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/ukraine-emergency" hreflang="en">Ukraine</a></li><li><a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/yemen-emergency" hreflang="en">Yemen</a></li></ul> </section> <nav class="site-footer__menu clearfix"> <div class="site-footer__menu-item"> <h2><a href="https://www.wfp.org/who-we-are" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/24378">Who we are</a></h2> <div class="site-footer__menu-subitem"> <h3 class="site-footer__menu-subitem-title js--site-footer__menu-subitem-toggler">ABOUT</h3> <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/publications/wfp-strategic-plan-2022-25" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/26341">Strategic Plan</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/governance-and-leadership" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/276">Governance and leadership</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/history" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/60">History</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/funding-and-donors" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/278">Funding and donors</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="site-footer__menu-subitem"> <h3 class="site-footer__menu-subitem-title js--site-footer__menu-subitem-toggler">TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY</h3> <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/ethical-culture" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/22701">Ethical culture</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/independent-evaluation" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/28889">Independent evaluation</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/internal-audit-investigations" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1174">Internal audit and investigations</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/performance-management-accountability" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/22266">Performance management and accountability</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="site-footer__menu-subitem"> <h3 class="site-footer__menu-subitem-title js--site-footer__menu-subitem-toggler">PARTNERSHIPS</h3> <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/governments" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/279">Governments</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/non-governmental-organizations" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/272">Non-governmental organizations</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/private-sector" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/280">Private sector</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/un-agencies-and-international-institutions" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/281">UN agencies and international institutions</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/clusters-and-multistakeholder-partnerships" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/282">Clusters and multistakeholder partnerships</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/academia-and-think-tanks" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/283">Academia and think tanks</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="site-footer__menu-item"> <h2><a href="https://www.wfp.org/our-work" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/25697">Our work</a></h2> <div class="site-footer__menu-subitem"> <h3 class="site-footer__menu-subitem-title js--site-footer__menu-subitem-toggler">SAVING LIVES</h3> <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/emergency-relief" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6">Emergency relief</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/food-assistance" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/3">Food assistance</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/humanitarian-support-and-services" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/8">Humanitarian support and services</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/supply-chain" target="_self" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/40">Supply chain</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="site-footer__menu-subitem"> <h3 class="site-footer__menu-subitem-title js--site-footer__menu-subitem-toggler">CHANGING LIVES</h3> <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/food-assistance-for-assets" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/49">Asset creation</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/supply-chain-for-cash-transfers" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/57">Cash and market support</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/climate-action" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/22">Climate action</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/food-systems" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1202" class="is-active" aria-current="page">Food systems</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/gender-equality" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/25">Gender equality</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/ending-malnutrition" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/26">Ending malnutrition</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/resilience-building" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/16">Resilience building</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/school-meals" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/32">School-based programmes</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/smallholder-market-support" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/21">Smallholder market support</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/sustainable-livelihoods-and-ecosystems" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/20">Sustainable livelihoods and ecosystems</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="site-footer__menu-subitem"> <h3 class="site-footer__menu-subitem-title js--site-footer__menu-subitem-toggler">SUPPORTING GOVERNMENTS</h3> <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/country-capacity-strengthening" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/34">Country capacity strengthening</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/social-protection" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/24">Social protection</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/south-south-cooperation" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/18">South-South cooperation</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="site-footer__menu-subitem"> <h3 class="site-footer__menu-subitem-title js--site-footer__menu-subitem-toggler">INNOVATION AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION</h3> <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/innovation" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1295">Innovation and technology</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="site-footer__menu-item"> <h2><a href="https://www.wfp.org/ending-hunger" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/24833">About hunger</a></h2> <div class="site-footer__menu-subitem"> <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/ending-hunger" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/24833">Ending hunger</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/conflict-and-hunger" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/23013">Conflict and hunger</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/global-hunger-crisis" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/27985">A global food crisis</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/sdgs" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/24387">WFP and the SDGs</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="site-footer__menu-item"> <h2><a href="https://www.wfp.org/get-involved" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/26174">Get involved</a></h2> <div class="site-footer__menu-subitem"> <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/support-us" target="_self" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/21798">Support us</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/partner-with-us" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/273">Partner with us</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="site-footer__menu-item"> <h2><a href="https://www.wfp.org/careers" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1351">Work with us</a></h2> <div class="site-footer__menu-subitem"> <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/careers" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1351">Careers</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/do-business-with-wfp" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/63">Do business with WFP</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="site-footer__menu-item"> <h2><a href="https://www.wfp.org/media-and-resources" target="_self" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/26180">Media & resources</a></h2> <div class="site-footer__menu-subitem"> <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/news" target="_self" data-drupal-link-system-path="news">News releases</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/publications" target="_self" data-drupal-link-system-path="publications">Publications</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/stories" data-drupal-link-system-path="stories">Stories</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/videos" target="_self" data-drupal-link-system-path="videos">Videos</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="site-footer__cta dn db-xl"> <a href="https://donate.wfp.org/1243/donation/regular/?campaign=1517" target="_blank" class="button-new button-new--large button-new--danger--primary button-new--featured button--donate">Donate</a> </div> </nav> <section class="site-footer__institutional"> <img class="site-footer__logo" src="https://cdn.wfp.org/guides/ui/assets/v0.0.1/logos/standard/en/wfp-logo-standard-white-en.svg" alt="UN World Food Programme"> <p>Via Cesare Giulio Viola, 68, 00148 Rome RM, Italy</p> <p> </p> <p>Follow us on:</p> <div class="site-footer__social-links"> <a href="https://twitter.com/WFP" title="Twitter" target="_blank">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WorldFoodProgramme" title="Facebook" target="_blank">Facebook</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/Worldfoodprogramme/" title="Instagram" target="_blank">Instagram</a> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-food-programme" title="Linkedin" target="_blank">Linkedin</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/WORLDFOODPROGRAM" title="YouTube" target="_blank">YouTube</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@worldfoodprogramme" title="TikTok" target="_blank">TikTok</a> </div> <div class="site-footer__cta dn-xl"> <a href="https://donate.wfp.org/1243/donation/regular/?campaign=1517" target="_blank" class="button-new button-new--large button-new--danger--primary button-new--featured button--donate">Donate</a> </div> </section> <div class="site-footer__service"> <p class="site-footer__copyright">2025 © World Food Programme</p> <nav class="site-footer__service-menu"> <ul> <li> <a href="https://donate.wfp.org/1243/donation/regular/?campaign=1517">Donate</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/privacy-policy">Privacy</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/contact">Contact</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://cdn.wfp.org/legal/terms">Terms of Use</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://executiveboard.wfp.org">Executive Board</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.wfp.org/alumni-network">WFP Alumni</a> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> </footer> </div> </div> <div id="search-overlay" class="fullscreen-overlay js--fullscreen-overlay search-overlay"> <a class="fullscreen-overlay__closer js--fullscreen-overlay__closer"></a> <div class="fullscreen-overlay__container search-overlay__container"> <div class="search-overlay__search"> <input class="search-overlay__input" required type="search" placeholder="Enter keyword"> <button type="button" disabled class="search-overlay__submit-button button-new js--search-overlay__submit">Search</button> </div> <p class="search-overlay__advanced-search"> <a href="/search">Advanced search</a> </p> </div> </div> </div> <script type="application/json" data-drupal-selector="drupal-settings-json">{"path":{"baseUrl":"\/","pathPrefix":"","currentPath":"node\/1202","currentPathIsAdmin":false,"isFront":false,"currentLanguage":"en"},"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","suppressDeprecationErrors":true,"user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"159cf691761978ad81905a5faf62b4deaac8c6751bdb5e2d3d5817d2468ddcac"}}</script> <script src="/sites/default/files/js/js_qRQG4ce9LWBVwbhgFC0lqkhqM0TF9ccXiiwLalozIO0.js?scope=footer&delta=0&language=en&theme=wfp_org&include=eJxVykEOgDAIAMEPaZv4IUItYtNGCKB-36u97ST7HgpinHlIwbGiO4UvdwPFCLLLsyITnISVDLY0afqeVkmgDNl7-vUHNnwlsQ"></script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

What are food systems? | World Food Programme