Articulating the effect of food systems innovation on the Sustainable Development Goals

Food system innovations will be instrumental to achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, major innovation breakthroughs can trigger profound and disruptive changes, leading to simultaneous and interlinked reconfigurations of multiple parts of the global food system. The emergence of new technologies or social solutions, therefore, have very different impact profiles, with favourable consequences for some SDGs and unintended adverse side-effects for others. Stand-alone innovations seldom achieve positive outcomes over multiple sustainability dimensions. Instead, they should be embedded as part of systemic changes that facilitate the implementation of the SDGs. Emerging trade-offs need to be intentionally addressed to achieve true sustainability, particularly those involving social aspects like inequality in its many forms, social justice, and strong institutions, which remain challenging. Trade-offs with undesirable consequences are manageable through the development of well planned transition pathways, careful monitoring of key indicators, and through the implementation of transparent science targets at the local level.

Automated summary

Food system innovations are crucial in achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals, but they can lead to profound changes that impact different parts of the global food system simultaneously. It is important to embed innovations as part of systemic changes to avoid unintended negative consequences and address emerging trade-offs involving social aspects like inequality and social justice. Well-planned transition pathways, careful monitoring of key indicators, and transparent science targets at the local level are essential in managing trade-offs with undesirable outcomes.