To truly understand the dynamism of food systems and catalyze meaningful change, diverse forms of evidence, knowledge and expertise, including lived experience and traditional knowledge, as well as case studies, scientific analyses and peer-reviewed literature, all need to be considered equally in efforts to transform food systems. By centering decisions on easily quantifiable data and narrowly focused metrics or limited indicators, funders are missing the big picture.

For our latest report, the Global Alliance for the Future of Food convened 17 teams involving 70-plus experts from around the world who wanted to better understand what this narrow view of what counts as valid evidence means for food systems transformation. Together, they identified barriers to and pathways toward a transformative research and action agenda.

Agroecology, regenerative approaches and Indigenous foodways represent opportunities to repair our relationship with nature and build climate resilience while equitably nourishing our communities.

This is a publication for funders who are supporting transformational change. We need to decolonize our approach to research, data and evidence, and open up food, agriculture and climate research to a wider lens of understanding.

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