Prof Sheryl Hendriks is a member of the UN Food Systems Summit scientific group that supports the scientific base on which the summit’s work is built. She is also working in this capacity alongside World Food Prize laureate, Lawrence Haddad in identifying solutions to complex food systems problems for Action Track 1: Ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all.

The UN Food Systems summit will take place in September 2021 and is being hosted by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in an effort to raise awareness on global issues such as food insecurity and hunger, and to land global commitments and actions that will transform food systems that aim to resolve hunger and reduce diet-related disease, while doing so in a sustainable manner (UN FSS, 2021).

The summit is being supported by several structures that include a task force, an advisory committee, and the scientific group. The Scientific Group is made up of independent researchers and scientists from around the world who are all working together to publish papers and reports in accordance with the action tracks set out to achieve the goals of the summit.

Prof Sheryl Hendriks is one of the researchers working in the scientific group. She was invited to participate in the Scientific Group by the Chair of the Panel, Prof Joachim von Braun. For her, this summit is a huge step towards improving food security. She states that, “This is the first time the world has been focussed on a systems change imperative in a way that brings all stakeholders together to focus on identifying practical, scaleable and workable solutions that are backed by scientific evidence.” While the summit is a big step, the action that follows the summit will be equally, if not more important. Prof Hendriks argues that “Stepped-up action by all stakeholders across the food system is required, and this needs to be supported by transdisciplinary science that addresses the complexity and trade-offs in the choices stakeholders - consumers, producers, processors, business and policymakers - will have to take to ensure a sustainable future.”

So far, the preparation for the summit is progressing well with over 1,200 ideas having been put forward to help meet the SDG’s as part of the public forum. The Scientific Group has also been making good progress, having held their 3^rd session late last month. During Session 3: Agenda for the Food Systems Summit from a Science and Innovation Perspective- considering propositions for technological and institutional innovations, Prof Hendriks presented on what she thinks are the most important opportunities that are need for the summit. For her, the three most important considerations are:

1. Innovations that incentivize the production of healthy diets,
2. To repurpose subsidies towards greater support to producing safe food,
3. Introduce/Improve on measures that ensure food prices reflect the true costs.

The third round of Action Track Public Forums are taking place this week. You can find more information here. The Public Forum 3 was held today, where the solutions for Action Track 1 (ensuring access to safe and nutritious foods for all) were presented. For more information on the UN Food Systems Summit, read here.

Prof Hendriks has also contributed to several publications that form part of the build-up to the summit. You can find them below:

1. Healthy diet – A definition for the United Nations Food Systems Summit 2021 by Lynnette M Neufeld, Sheryl Hendriks, Marta Hugas (March 2021)

2. Action Track 1 – Ensuring Access to Safe and Nutritious Food for All Through Transformation of Food Systems by Sheryl Hendriks, Jean-François Soussana, Martin Cole, Andrew Kambugu, David Zilberman (March 2021)

3. The Role of Science, Technology, and Innovation for Transforming Food Systems in Africa by Sheryl L. Hendriks, Endashaw Bekele, Thameur Chaibi, Mohamed Hassan, Douglas W. Miano and John H. Muyonga (April 2021) 

4. Policy options for food systems transformation in Africa – from the perspective of African universities and think tanks by Fadi Abdelradi, Assefa Admassie, John Asafu Adjaye, Miltone Ayieko, Ousmane Badiane, Katrin Glatzel, Sheryl Hendriks, Mame Samba Mbaye, Fatima Ezzahra Mengoub, Racha Ramadan, Tolulope Olofinbiyi, Simbarashe Sibanda (April 2021).See the YouTube recording here.

5. Commentary with the Pontifical Academy - see news here