Rethinking the Global Food System

• Agricultural Economics Workshop

Date and Location

Thursday, April 9, 2015, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Garrison Room, 2nd Fl Memorial Union

Abstract

The global food system remains vulnerable to several challenges including growing natural resource constraints, increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events due to climatic change, rising agricultural-related diseases and food safety scandals, and food-fuel competition. Moreover, the emerging triple burden of malnutrition—the coexistence of hunger, under-nutrition, and overweight and obesity—signifies the widening gap between food systems and improvements in nutrition and health. A rethinking of the global food system is imperative as business as usual is no longer sustainable. However, ongoing efforts to rethink the global food system show promise.

In this presentation, Dr. Fan will provide an overview of vulnerabilities to the global food system as well as developments that signal progress and offer hope. He will then focus on what needs to be done to build resilience of the food system to emerging challenges and ensure improved food security and nutrition outcomes.