6 reflections from dialogues with the health sector about the future of food

At the Global Alliance, we’re big believers in the power of narrative to catalyze and stimulate transformative action. Indeed, we argue that transformational change of our food systems will not occur without an inspirational vision of what is possible and a recognition that ecological and animal health are integral to human health, well-being, and happiness.

But, we know there’s a lot of work to do to shift mindsets, build awareness of the many interconnections between human, animal, and ecological health, and that any pathways to systems change must be sensitive and reflective of context.

With this in mind, early last year we set out to convene people from across the health sector to understand their views on food-climate-health issues. Over 12 months, working with partners (Health Care Without Harm, Planetary Health Philippines, Greenpeace Southeast Asia, Salud sin Daño, Projeto Hospitais Saudáveis, GroundWork, and DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security); we hosted a number of one-to-one conversations and three regional roundtables with doctors, nurses, dieticians and nutritionists, community health workers, service designers, and patient advocates to dive deep and understand the opportunities and challenges of promoting human health alongside animal and ecological health. We also engaged agroecology advocates, food sovereignty, and Indigenous groups to provide a food systems perspective to the discussions.

Reflecting on the dialogues, here are 6 commonalities:

1. The ongoing COVID-19 crisis means food systems are not yet a priority for the health community. While some health professionals increasingly recognize the links between planetary and human health, the health system is under severe strain due to the pandemic; limited time and resources mean health and care professionals struggle to actively engage in food systems issues.
2. The consumption of ultra-processed food has surged across all regions, driving escalating rates of diet-related health issues including obesity, diabetes, cancer, and other health diseases. Participants spoke about how the transition to a more “westernized pattern” of eating (i.e., high amounts of processed and pre-packaged foods, red meat, trans-fat, and sugar) is shifting local, traditional, and indigenous food cultures and compounding current and future health issues.
3. The ‘productivist’ and the commodity-driven narrative continues to dominate thinking about food production and consumption and is linked to diet-related health issues. Participants reflected on how power over food is held primarily by governments and corporations — and not shared with smallholder farmers, citizens, and Indigenous groups, and many were curious about how this contributes to dysfunctional and unhealthy diets.
4. The “One Health” approach is an entry point and an opportunity to connect agendas. This approach to designing and implementing programs, policies, legislation, and research links ecological health, human health, and animal health. It supports efforts to avoid siloed thinking, which can often result in unintended consequences.
5. There’s an opportunity to connect healthy diets and preventive health early on as part of the training and curricula of medical colleges and universities — empowering the next generation of global health professionals and practitioners. Participants were curious about the potential role of agroecology and regenerative approaches to improve health outcomes and this is not yet recognized and communicated enough to health professionals.
6. The power of local communities and civil society organizations as a lever of change should never be underestimated. Participants suggested that local civil society groups and health actors should work together and with governments on a shared vision for healthier food systems, leading to action plans that can be developed in collaboration with all food systems actors.

As we look ahead to the World Health Assembly in May 2022, when the global health community will come together, and COP27 in November 2022 when the climate community will come together, there’s clearly an opportunity for deeper collaboration between the health sector and planetary health advocates. A shared mission to transform food systems could be a common ground for action — serving to both address the foundational drivers and determinants of ill health and shift mindsets so that human, animal, and ecological health are prioritized within national COVID-19 recovery plans and climate plans — such as the Nationally Determined Contributions.

At the Global Alliance, we remain committed to continuing to engage and facilitate dialogue and connection across diverse communities, utilizing our principles as the compass to help bring us together and guide our way forward. Similarly, we will continue to shine a light on positive food systems initiatives happening on the ground — these examples give us hope that change is possible and already happening. In Spring 2022, we will release a series of case studies focused on initiatives that are connecting human, animal, and ecological health through food. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with the news and launch of these case studies).

We’re exceptionally grateful to the diversity of health sector experts who have worked with us so far and have taken the time to share their wisdom with us and collaborate in this shared journey to build food systems that are resilient, equitable, and, of course, healthy for all.

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