The Science Advisory Committee (SAC) of the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub has released a policy brief titled "Strengthening National Governance for Accelerating Food Systems Transformation." This brief was authored under the leadership of Professor Shenggen Fan, with contributions from SAC members Kaosar Afsana, Mohamed Ait Kadi, Shakuntala Thilsted, Jochim von Braun, and others. The brief provides a comprehensive analysis of the critical role of national governance in translating global food systems commitments into concrete actions, emphasizing that strengthening national governance is essential for advancing food systems transformation. It warns that without enhanced national governance mechanisms, the goals set at the 2021 summit are unlikely to be achieved.

The second United Nations Food Systems Summit stocktake (UNFSS+4) was held in Ethiopia from July 27 to 29, 2025. Professor Shenggen Fan, serving as Vice-Chair of the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub Science Advisory Committee, participated in the summit. During the event, he elaborated on the key points of the brief and engaged with attendees to further discuss strategies for strengthening national governance to drive global food systems transformation.

Content of the Brief

At the inaugural 2021 UN Food Systems Summit, over 190 countries collectively identified five core action areas for food systems transformation: access to safe and nutritious food for all, sustainable consumption, nature-positive production, livelihoods and equality, and resilience. However, during the 2023 "UN Food Systems Summit+2" stocktake, it was acknowledged that overall progress has been uneven and fell short of expectations. Implementation is currently lagging, and urgent action is needed to accelerate progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as eliminating hunger, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture.

The transformation of food systems governance lies at the heart of this transition. While extensive research has been conducted on reforming global food governance mechanisms, there remains a notable gap in understanding how to translate national policy measures and commitments into concrete actions at the country level. Without strengthened national governance mechanisms, the goals of the 2021 summit are unlikely to be realized. The UNFSS+4 meeting urgently calls for countries to establish cross-sectoral coordination bodies, right-based frameworks, and data monitoring systems, while accelerating transformation through fiscal reforms and local capacity building.

National governance plays a pivotal role in coordinating multi-sectoral actions (e.g., agriculture, health, environment) through policies and regulations, serving as the bridge for localizing global commitments such as the SDGs and the Paris Agreement. It must engage diverse stakeholders, including public sectors, private institutions, and indigenous communities, to establish a right-based framework that integrates social justice and ecological integrity (encompassing the right to food, nature rights, and indigenous rights). To this end, the brief proposes pathways for strengthening national governance:

1. Use a Systems Approach to Governance
   Establish cross-sectoral coordination mechanisms (e.g., Vietnam’s integration of agriculture and environment ministries) and develop comprehensive roadmaps that integrate nutrition strategies, waste reduction plans, and climate policies.

2. Adopt a Fundamental Rights Framework
   Recognize the right to food in national laws (as seen in several African countries) and ensure year-round food access for smallholder farmers through social protection programs.

3. Empower Urban Communities and Local Governments
   Empower local governments to design context-specific policies (e.g., Nairobi’s vertical farming land quotas) and enhance accountability through tools such as community budget tracking.

4. Strengthen Institutional Capacity.
   Develop forward-looking policy analysis capabilities in civil society organizations, create science-policy interface mechanisms, and foster communities of innovative practices.

5. Enhance Data and Evidence-Based Decision-Making
   Utilize technologies such as remote sensing, AI, and blockchain to establish monitoring systems (e.g., Ghana’s FSNIS) and strengthen accountability through international peer reviews.

6. Leverage Financial and Economic Instruments
   Redirect subsidies towards agroecology (e.g., Nigeria’s shift of 35% fertilizer subsidies to climate resilience programs) and promote blended finance and South-South cooperation.