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Global food and nutrition security (FNS) is a multi-faceted issue in need of a more integrated and coherent governance approach. Currently there is no clear vision by international organizations or policymakers how such an integrated approach should or could look like. In the FOODSECURE project, in a science-driven process, stakeholders of global FNS jointly developed exploratory future scenarios on FNS, along with visions for action and policy options. The results of these stakeholder workshops are indicative of a paradigm shift in visions on FNS that go beyond ‘productionist’ perspectives and emphasize the integration of health, environment and the role of society. Interesting highlights were the ideas to invest in nutrition education, linked to an awareness on the socio-cultural value of food, to incorporate the right to food in constitutions worldwide, and the emphasis on the facilitating role that national governments can (or should) continue to play in our globalized world. What also could be witnessed was how stakeholders brought in a socio-political and ethical dimension that questioned the limits and assumptions of the scenarios that were starting points for the discussions.

Even in a world characterized by inequality, global food security can improve up to 2050. However, on average, more equal worlds improve food and nutrition security over a wider range of FNS indicators.

To guide policymaking, decision makers require a good understanding of the long-term drivers of food security and their interactions. Scenario analysis is widely considered as the appropriate tool to assess complex and uncertain problems, such as food security. This paper describes the development process, storylines and drivers of four new global scenarios up to the year 2050 that are specifically designed for food security modelling. To ensure the relevance, credibility and legitimacy of the scenarios a participatory process is used, involving a diverse group of stakeholders. A novel approach is introduced to quantify a selection of key drivers that directly can be used as input in global integrated assessment models to assess the impact of aid, trade, agricultural and science policies on global food and nutrition security.

To guide policymaking, decision makers require a good understanding of the long-term drivers of food security and their interactions. Scenario analysis is widely considered as the appropriate tool to assess complex and uncertain problems, such as food security. This paper describes the development process, storylines and drivers of four new global scenarios up to the year 2050 that are specifically designed for food security modelling. To ensure the relevance, credibility and legitimacy of the scenarios a highly participatory process is used, involving a diverse group of stakeholders. A novel approach is introduced to quantify a selection of key drivers that directly can be used as input in global integrated assessment models to assess the impact of aid, trade, agricultural and science policies on global food and nutrition security.

This report looks at the African regional trade, regional integration agreements (RIAs) and the implications for food security. An overview is presented on the present state of African regional integration and the determinants of regional trade in agriculture and food commodities. In particular the study focuses on eight target countries, related RIAs and a set of strategic food commodities. The evidence presented in this study shows that African countries have made progress in opening up agriculture and food trade with partner countries. With, the exception of Ghana, Tanzania and Mozambique, the effective applied tariff rates for regional trade partners are substantially lower than the (MFN) rates applied to world trade partners. Nonetheless, regional trade in agriculture and food only increased marginally between 1990 and 2009, and is relatively low in comparison with other developing regions. The weak state of soft and hard infrastructure, rather than high trade tariffs, seem to be the cause of this.