Why food systems must be at the heart of any pandemic treaty
The WHO has endorsed a proposal initially made by the European Union in December 2020 to negotiate a new international treaty on pandemic preparedness, with plans to convene again in November of this year. “Nobody is safe until everyone is safe” was a salient message that accompanied the proposal. Six months on, it is no less salient for signatories and supporters of the treaty.
In particular, we need action that puts food systems transformation at the centre of the COVID-19 recovery agenda, taking “preparing for the next pandemic” towards preventing the next pandemic. We must do more to reverse the trends that enable food and agricultural land-use to continue driving terrestrial biodiversity loss and ecosystem change and, in doing so, create the conditions for the emergence of zoonotic diseases, like COVID-19.
The latest Ideas 4 Development piece has linked livestock farming and the conversion of forestland to the sharp increase in epidemics, showing that ‘the rise in the number of epidemics reported among humans since the early 1960s and among production animals since 2000 is statistically correlated to an increase in the number of animals raised. Similarly, a study published by Frontiers in Veterinary Science details the correlation between increased outbreaks of infectious disease and deforestation, certain types of reforestation, and commercial palm plantations.
It’s clear that we must take action to tackle the gulf of awareness in people’s understanding of how planetary and animal health impact human health. Numerous studies and evidence shine a light on the deep interconnections and interdependencies at play, whilst also warning us about what happens when one of those factors is out of balance: the health in the other areas suffers. Terribly. Indeed, if we take any of the great health challenges that face humanity today: from malnutrition in all its forms and escalating antimicrobial resistance to even the occupational hazards caused by environmental contamination, it’s increasingly clear that we cannot address human, animal, and ecological health in silos anymore.
With the UN Food Systems Summit and COP26 on the near horizon, choosing holistic and sustainable pathways forward out of this pandemic must centre on food systems transformation.
As Greta Thunberg says, we need to connect these dots — and then go beyond that. As a first step, we need a new global narrative that puts the health of people, animals, and our planet at the heart of our efforts to transform food systems. This requires us to shift our focus from quantity to quality, and to consider food not just as a commodity, but as a public good that is critical to health for all.
Alongside, acting on this narrative, we need to embrace new tools, measures, and benchmarks that enable us to think and act systemically. In turn, we must join forces with like-minded actors who are advocating for shared and interlinked causes. Just take a look at the work of these Beacons of Hope stories during COVID-19 and accompanying analysis for some inspiration: transformative and collaborative change across food systems is possible; it must be accelerated.
Ultimately, the way we produce, process, package, shop, eat and waste food is pushing the health of people, animals, and the planet to the limits. Now is the time to address the root causes of systems failures and, together, strengthen the demands for change. We must learn from past mistakes, rather than repeating them.
Ministerial groups, policy-makers, public health experts and other thought leaders gathering at the 74th World Health Assembly — and others soon to meet again at the G7 Summit — have a unique opportunity to bring transformative change through a different mindset and bold action. With experts already warning that the Pandemic Treaty might not go far enough to action real change in future pandemics, we need to expand our thinking on how we can tackle the drivers of pandemics, biodiversity loss and climate change, systemically, by creating the enabling and supportive environments where food systems that prioritize so-called “One Health” objectives can flourish.
There can be little doubt that a mindset and action plan based on prevention in addition to preparedness and response will not only result in less costs to the public purse and the economy over the long-term but, crucially, save many more lives and improve the health and well-being of those lives.
All of us have a role to play in food systems transformation for health, including farmers, the private sector, the healthcare and public health sectors, civil society, researchers, and citizens, but governments in particular play a crucial role and need to demonstrate leadership. So, as this year’s World Health Assembly draws to a close for another year, let’s ramp up the calls for:
- dialogue and action;
- coordination across multiple sectors and departments that do not ordinarily work together; and
- a strategic focus on systemic solutions and integrated, multifaceted, and holistic policies.
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This Friday, on June 4, the World Health Organization, EAT, and the Global Alliance for the Future of Food will host Healthy Food Systems: For people, planet, and prosperity. In this independent dialogue, experts from across the health and food communities will explore how a new narrative about healthy food systems can be used to stimulate action and drive decision-makers towards making commitments, from policies to investments, that deliver on better health outcomes for people, animals, and the planet. Register here.
