Research priorities for global food security under extreme events

Area of Science:

• Food security
• Climate change impacts
• Resilient food systems

Background:

• Extreme events (climate, economic, geopolitical, epidemics) pose significant threats to global food security.
• The complex, cascading impacts of these events challenge existing food systems research and policy.
• Addressing these threats requires a deeper understanding of food system vulnerabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prioritize key threats to global food security from extreme events over the next two decades.
• To identify critical research questions and knowledge gaps related to food system resilience.
• To inform research funding and policy development for tackling food insecurity.

Main Methods:

• Expert elicitation from diverse fields and geographies.
• Identification and prioritization of extreme events impacting food security.
• Analysis of research gaps and challenges in food system governance.

Main Results:

• A prioritized list of threats to global food security from extreme events was developed.
• Emerging research questions highlight challenges in designing, adopting, and governing resilient food systems.
• Key areas for future research and investment were identified.

Conclusions:

• Transformations in food systems are crucial for societal resilience against extreme events and food insecurity.
• Targeted research funding can accelerate the development of robust and adaptable food systems.
• Proactive strategies are needed to mitigate the impact of extreme events on global food security.