Achieving sustainable food security in a world with a growing population with changing diets and a changing climate is a major challenge. With about 1 billion people hungry, 2 billion with insufficient nutrients and 2 billion already overweight or obese, malnutrition is affecting the health outcomes of over half the global population. 

Further, current approaches to today’s food demand are seriously undermining the natural resource base upon which our food security depends. More food is needed in the future but climate change means reduced food production potential. Poor people will be hit the hardest and many are dependent on already-degraded natural resources In looking for solutions, all parts of the food system need to be considered: from farmers’ fields to consumers’ plates.

The workshop has two objectives: (a) to explore modalities for achieving greater synergy amongst the current global research programs on food systems; and (b) to identify some of the major research themes that are currently under-researched. Future Earth is interested to establish a research area on food systems and this workshop will contribute to that aim.

The workshop is organized by CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) and Future Earth.