Drivers of Food System Success

Hello my people, this moment is both exciting and full of reflections, this is edition twenty of The Food Renaissance, I am super excited and grateful for you, for your time, your attention and feedback where you have shared feedback, each and every person subscribed to this news letter is treasured as a gift, so thank you for the gift of YOU!

Twenty editions and over four thousand seven hundred subscribers later, I have better clarity on the ideas that sponsored the creation of The Food Renaissance and I am super grateful for everyone that has grown with me and has patiently read and considered the thoughts and ideas shared here, especially our food system actors who live out these ideas daily.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I think the title for edition twenty is very fitting; Drivers of Food System Success, I will attempt to not load up too much in a bit to exhaust the topic, I might continue this topic on the next edition, most likely I will, just like we have done here with other topics that needed the same level of attention in the past.

Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to live in all kinds of cities.

Food systems are or a food system is the putting together of, administration, and allocation of all the raw materials, processes, equipment, infrastructure needed to capture and produce an abundance of good food for people and animals everywhere. In details, it involves different parts working together as parts of a whole interconnecting network that facilitates the capturing/catching of food, the production and growing of food, the post harvest activities that occur, the processing of food following functional food standards, quality control, and the storage, distribution and delivery of good food transparently, championed and driven by individuals, families, and organizations. The people who carry out these activities are called food system actors. (Damion Udoh, May, 2025)

Having defined what a food system is, what are the drivers of food system success?

At the core you will find like we will explore very soon that people are the primary drivers of food system success.

Before we continue, lets provide some direction for our conversation today, our goal with todays edition is to identify and explore the things that drive food system success. There are an abundant number of indices to measure when thinking on drivers of our food system, but our focus will be primarily, the drivers that produce successful food systems.

We will explore three key drivers of food system success today;

1. An understanding of the population and demography it is being designed for and adequate consideration of occurring change in demography.

2. Changing diet and consumer behavior.

3. Investments in our food systems.

Let's dive in;

1. An understanding of the population and demography it is being designed for and adequate consideration of occurring change in demography.

So we have stated 'population' and 'demography' and these might loosely seem repetitive, but that putting together or rendering is intentional, lets explore why;

Population is primarily and simply defined as a group of people or organisms inhabiting a specific area, it is a broad term referring to a collective of individuals, for example; The population of Lagos the commercial capital or Abuja the political capital of Nigeria, refers to all the people living in these cities. 

Demography on the other hand refers to the meticulous scientific study of populations, it examines the size, composition, and changes within a population. Demographers typically use statistical methods to analyze population data, including birth rates, death rates, and migration patterns. 

Understanding the population, i.e. the number of people we are designing and implementing our food systems for and the demography, i.e. the constitution or composition of that population and the changes that occur within it is key to the success of our food systems.

All of this data goes to driving the decision on the nutritional needs they have, the kinds of food that the different varieties of people within the population like or want given the diversities in culture, taste and preferences, the production, processing, storage, mode of distribution and delivery of the food needed for optimal growth and development of said demography. This is a highlight of some of the reasons why a deep understanding of the demography is necessary for food system success.

Typically, alongside research into all of the above stated factors, surveys; in person, digital and through other media are also important to discover the kinds of food different people group will like to have access to as our food systems are not truly successful without access to varieties of food providing the complete range of nutritional needs any people need to live, healthy, happy, and thrive, while growing functional economies.

Well thought out, planned and executed food systems that produce the nutritional outcomes any people require and provides food security and sovereignty are the back bone of functional economies (Damion Udoh, May, 2025)

2. Changing diet and consumer behavior.

Within any functional demography, there is always growth, and all growth signifies changes in diet, nutritional needs, and therefore consumer behavior.

Understanding, planning for, and monitoring this trends provide the template for understanding where and what the demand will be and where it is going, this information will help ensure food system actors capture and grow food best suited to the nutritional needs of the population, this simple factor well implemented in consonance with other key factors could help reduce post harvest losses, given that said 'other factors' which we have discussed on The Food Renaissance and will explore in the execution of this title are in place.

One of such key factors will be a well defined and pre-determined market for everything being grown, not from a demographic overview view point or point of view now, but more from a community driven demand model for all of the food being grown, I have presented the case on how Collaborator and Grow for Life by Quick Leap help achieve this from an orchestration of nutritional outcomes point of view - Collaborator and a community led demand driven system POV which is the focus for Grow for Life.

3. Investment in our food systems

According to the International Food Policy Research Institute, achieving global food security requires a multifaceted approach, including investments in agriculture, infrastructure, social safety nets, and research.

I agree!

They continue writing;

Specifically, investments in irrigation, storage facilities, transportation, and sustainable agricultural practices are crucial. Additionally, social programs like food assistance and school feeding can help vulnerable populations access nutritious food and achieve food security. 

Again, I agree, our food systems need key strategic investments in both infrastructure, agri-food practices, social programs to cater to the needs of those who cannot afford good food and in the food system actors who capture, grow, process, and distribute our food.

A more detailed breakdown of the investment needs:

1. Infrastructure:

• Transportation: Improving road networks and efficient transportation systems is essential for moving food from producers to consumers. 

• Storage: Investments in modern, efficient storage facilities are needed to minimize post-harvest losses and ensure a stable food supply. 

• Irrigation and better water allocation: Enhancing irrigation systems, especially in drought-prone regions, is critical for increasing agricultural productivity, as we also invest in systems that help discovery, tap and allocate water better. 

• Digital Infrastructure: Investments in digital connectivity can facilitate access to information, market linkages, and improved agricultural technologies.

2. Agriculture and Research:

• Sustainable Agriculture: Promoting sustainable farming practices, including climate-smart agriculture and crop diversification, can enhance resilience to climate change and ensure long-term food security. 

• Agricultural Research: Investing in research and development of new crop varieties, pest control methods, and improved agricultural technologies can boost productivity and efficiency. 

• Farmer Empowerment: Supporting smallholder farmers with access to credit, technology, and market linkages will empower them to increase their production. 

3. Social Safety Nets:

• Food Assistance Programs: Implementing and strengthening food assistance programs, whether those are food stamps or vouchers, cash transfers, redeemable food vouchers or gift cards and school feeding programs, can help vulnerable populations access nutritious food. 

• Social Protection: Expanding social protection programs, including unemployment benefits and health insurance, can help individuals cope with food insecurity. 

4. Other Important Investments:

• Water and Sanitation: Improving access to safe water and sanitation can help prevent malnutrition and foodborne illnesses. 

• Health Services: Investing in health services, including nutrition education and healthcare, can improve overall health and well-being, which are crucial for food security. 

• Education: Investing in education, particularly for women and girls, can empower individuals to make informed decisions about food choices and improve overall household food security. 

5. International Cooperation:

• Local and International Private Investments and Multilateral Financing: More private sector investments from both local and international players and multilateral financing from organizations like the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) and other multilateral financing platforms play a crucial role in supporting food security initiatives in developing countries. 

• Policy Coordination: Strong coordination among governments, international organizations, and the private sector is essential to ensure that investments are aligned with national food security strategies.

We will continue these thoughts on the next edition of The Food Renaissance.

As always thank you very much for reading and please let me know what your thoughts are. I will really love to hear and read from you! I’m so excited for edition twenty of The Food Renaissance, and I’m thrilled to have you on this journey with me.

I did not write over the last two weeks particularly because I have been travelling, no excuses, just being accountable, I am doing better, I always appreciate your patience with me.

Thank you!

Let's keep building the food system we desire together.

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Cheers,

Damion Udoh

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This edition of The Food Renaissance was written, edited and produced by Damion Udoh

Content from external sources have been duly acknowledged. Special thanks to:

• Quick Leap - https://quickleap.co/blog

• The International Food Policy Research Institute - IFPRI

• Foresight4food

• FAO

• Wikipedia

Useful reference materials:

• The six main categories of drivers shaping food systems - Research Gate

• Drivers of the food system based on food sovereignty domains: an integrative systematic literature review - https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainable-food-systems/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2024.1450321/full

Have any questions, feedback, or suggestions on topics or how to make The Food Renaissance better? Please email me: damionudoh@quickleap.co or drop a comment in the comments section, which ever option is most convenient or serves you best.

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