Food systems are vital for achieving zero hunger and agriculture is the world’s main source of employment; investing in it is considered twice as effective at alleviating poverty as investing in any other sector. Farming practices are closely linked to ecosystem health, natural resource diversity and renewal, and climate change. Lastly, food insecurity and rural poverty are often the root cause of political instability, conflict and migration.
Historically, the overriding priority for agriculture was increased production, however, this century has very different issues. The Milano Group proposed a four-pillar strategy: ensure agriculture and food supply chains play a greater role in sustainable development; mitigate climate change by means of new farming practices; rejuvenate rural territories; and renew food system governance.