• costa rica
• drivers
• food security and nutrition
• food systems
• ghana
• governance
• inequalities
• kenya
• local food system
• transformation
• uganda
• vulnerability

This research discusses the normative and positive transformations occurring in food systems, particularly in developing countries like Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, and Costa Rica. The drivers influencing these transformations influence inequalities and food security and nutrition, in which the aim of the research is to understand the trade-offs and synergies on food policies, and the role of governance as a coping strategy to vulnerability.
This research used a sustainable food system approach using the HLPE (High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition) framework to identify the current food trends and resources available that adapt to the contexts of the case studies using the right-to-food definition. This framework contributes to analyzing the food system interactions and determining food security and nutrition as outcomes, and therefore to identify the link to inequalities and equity, and the connections between and within the actors for casual activities that often result in outcomes in a boundary, and are analyzed thought the system approach, contributing at addressing complex issues.
For Ghana and Kenya case studies, the HLPE framework was used to identify and categorize the drivers, diets, and supply chains which were assessed using indicators and evaluating them with available data from open sources. Later, the trends were evaluated for each driver in the food system, given their evolution on time. For the Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement case study in Uganda, the HLPE framework was used to determine drivers in the food system and policies using literature and open data sources, and later to identify governance structures in maize value chains, as well as the role of women and refugees as a vulnerable population in the maize supply chain. In Costa Rica, the focus was on local food systems and policies and governance's role in reducing inequalities through interviews; an adapted framework from the HLPE framework was used based to develop and understand the local food system.
A vulnerability approach was applied to merge the analysis of the four case studies and evaluate transformation in food systems. Parting from the food systems framework from HLPE, the analysis of this research is embedded into the vulnerability framework inside the food system boundaries, evaluating the vulnerability and resilience of the food system itself of food supply chains, consumer behavior, and diets from the impact of the external drivers or drivers of change causing by conflict or shocks, incurring in transformation in the food systems. The food system boundary could be national, like the case studies of Ghana and Kenya, or local, like the case study of Uganda and Costa Rica.
In developing countries common to the case studies, the most important drivers that lead to inequality and compromise food security and nutrition for the most vulnerable populations are climate change, population growth, and the dominance of oligopoly companies in the traditional retail and supply markets, as part of globalize system that often is unfair for the poorest. Positive transformation for structural changes, political and collaboration among diverse stakeholders, including government, private sector, civil society organizations, and development partners, is crucial for policy coherence and impactful positive outcomes.
Normative transformation enhances resilience, sustainability, and ensure a stable future for generations to come, a comprehensive and holistic approach using a system approach to address challenges such as the triple burden of malnutrition, inadequate infrastructure, gender inequality, and market distortions is needed.
In a highly globalized world with rapid changes in food systems, developing countries are far from restricting international trade policies. Often these policies exclude small farmers from participating in the lucrative global trade market. However, some countries in the developing world have found success in resolving these difficulties by implementing short supply chains, as seen in Uganda, and promoting local food systems with active local governance, as for the case of Costa Rica. In the face of dynamic changes in the food system, these strategies have augmented resilience.
It is critical to invest in innovation and technology to truly improve food systems in a normative way to benefit actors in vulnerable conditions in the food system. This innovation should respond to the critical drivers, as shown in the cases of Ghana and Kenya, where there are cases of innovations accessible to people experiencing poverty to improve the use of natural resources in agriculture, marketing technologies, and rapid response to disasters to achieve resilience. This investment is required to meet long-term food security and nutrition objectives. We can establish a more equitable and sustainable food system by making small farmers more competitive, improving the profitability of small-scale farming, attracting youth, assuring greater participation of women, and making food more accessible to all. Such revolutions necessitate comprehensive initiatives that include policies at a economic, social, and environmental level involving inclusive governance factors. By tackling these multidimensional concerns, we can develop a food system that supports the well-being of all persons and communities, particularly to the most vulnerable.