Posted on September, 12 2024

• 18 countries in Asia Pacific analyzed and classified by Food System Type

• Powerful case studies from the region highlight success stories and learnings for similar countries

The Great Food Puzzle, a new tool and research published by WWF, helps identify the most appropriate actions on a national basis. The report highlights that food systems - the complex network of activities that involves the production, processing, transportation, and consumption of food - have major global impacts on nature and climate change, but they can only be made sustainable with local solutions. 

In the first global study of its kind, WWF has analyzed more than 100 countries and classified them into six different Food System Types, based on their environmental and socioeconomic characteristics, and ranked the highest-impact actions in each. The inclusion of environmental factors sets the study apart from other food system typologies. It is critical they are considered, given food systems’ widespread impact on nature and total dependence on a functioning natural world.

Success stories for 12 countries in the Asia Pacific region (Australia, China, India, Indonesia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Tonga and Viet Nam) span across all six of the Food System Types, underlining the importance of locally-led solutions and customised national approaches. Of these 12 success stories from Asia Pacific, the Philippines, Thailand, Tonga and Viet Nam are all Food System Type 2 which is characterised by high concentrations of biodiversity, food production being driven by smallholders, and uneven levels of food security. Some high-impact actions recommended for this type of Food System include optimising land use, and increasing food and agri-diversity. This could be accelerated by learning from and scaling existing approaches.

Although there are some similarities across all Food System Types (named 1-6 to avoid biases or preconceptions), there are notable differences between priority actions in different Food System Types. 

Brent Loken, Global Food Lead Scientist, WWF said: “Food systems are extremely complex and are shaped by lots of factors including cultural heritage, values and local contexts. That means there are no silver bullets that will work everywhere and reverse the devastating impact that current food systems have on nature and human health. The Great Food Puzzle approach helps all stakeholders to identify science-based actions based on local context, or place-based solutions, that will deliver the biggest wins for people and planet in the shortest time.”

For instance, in Viet Nam, a Food System Type 2, high impact can be delivered by increasing food and agri-diversity. Examples could include introducing shrimp-rice mixed production systems, and diversifying the planting of other food crops (such as lotus, jackfruit, durian). Diverse, mixed farming systems are more resilient, providing income from various sources and can reduce dependence on chemical inputs that pollute freshwater ecosystems.

In addition, promoting healthy, sustainable and traditional foods (like nuts, legumes and nutri-cereals) would have more impact in Type 2 countries (like the Philippines, Tonga, Thailand and Viet Nam), many of which are currently experiencing shifts away from healthy and sustainable food cultures and are seeing increased consumption of ultra-processed and meat intensive diets.

In Thailand, another Type 2 Food System, optimising land use has potential to empower farmers, reduce living expenses and improve access to nutritious food. By improving soil health through the use of organic fertilizers and applying agroecological principles, Thailand has been able to restore vitality to some of its degraded landscapes through food production forests.   

While there is no single set of policy interventions that should be applied globally, the research revealed a consistent need across all countries to optimize land use and restore biodiversity, improve education and knowledge on healthy and sustainable diets, and to redesign financial subsidies and incentives. Countries in Asia Pacific can learn from successes beyond the region, for instance, Thailand and Malaysia may benefit from the learnings of countries from the same typologies in other regions, such as  Madagascar and Colombia.

“There are many examples of countries already applying the highest-impact actions. Moving forward, the Great Food Puzzle approach will help to accelerate the incredible food system transformation that is already underway. By finding place-based solutions and building coalitions of actors who can learn from each other and share solutions and stories of success, we have the opportunity to create healthy and sustainable food systems for all,” said Loken.

After using the Great Food Puzzle to identify the high-priority, high-impact actions in different places, WWF can support implementation through its suite of additional solutions and tools for farmers, policymakers, businesses and consumers and physical presence in over 100 countries.

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Notes to Editors:

More more information, contact Peter McFeely, WWF’s Head of Communications, Food Practice, pmcfeely@wwfint.org 

The Great Food Puzzle website: greatfoodpuzzle.com

Selected success stories: China (Type 4), India (Type 3), Pakistan (Type 3), Philippines (Type 2) and case studies: Thailand (Type 2) and Viet Nam (Type 2)