Poor diet is a major contributor to many diseases, weakening health, and overall nutrition worldwide. In many places, foods that support healthy diets are either unavailable or excessively costly. As a result, the demand for nutritious options is not as strong as it ideally should be. Given the far-reaching impacts of today's food systems on both human and environmental health, it’s clear that the current approach is insufficient. In response to these challenges, SLYCAN Trust hosted a workshop on August 23, 2024, bringing together academic experts in the food systems sector to exchange insights on innovative and sustainable solutions to reshape Sri Lanka’s food systems, and enhance nutrition and food security.

Food systems are vast, interconnected networks involving farmers, food processors, distributors, consumers and policymakers, each responding to diverse incentives. However, all these actors have crucial roles in driving a shift towards a more nutritious and secure food system. A central topic discussed in the workshop was how to create the conditions needed to motivate these stakeholders, and convert evidence-based solutions into real sustainable actions.

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‍Research and development initiatives

To meet the complex demands of sustainable food systems, rapid advancements in research, innovation, and knowledge-sharing are essential across the entire value chain–from food production to consumption. The workshop participants identified several high-priority areas:

• Agricultural innovation: Developing climate-resilient, high-yield crops, improving pest and disease management, and advancing post and pre-harvest technologies. Agricultural innovations help farmers produce more nutritious food under challenging conditions, such as drought or excessive rainfall, which are expected to become increasingly common with climate change.
• Product development: Expanding the range of nutrient-dense, value-added products from traditional crops (e.g. millet and mung beans) is critical. Technologies that synthesize nutrients and improve quality assurance and packaging extend the shelf life of products and make them more accessible to consumers, reducing waste along the value chain.
• Storage solutions: Implementing advanced post-harvest storage systems, such as, climate-controlled and solar powered storage, reducing food loss and waste, preserving nutritional quality, and increasing shelf life, particularly for perishable products. These measures are vital for rural communities, where storage limitations often lead to substantial food losses.
• Interdisciplinary research: Understanding consumer behaviour, farmers’ perception, market demand, and supply chain optimization is crucial for making food systems more effective and responsive. Such research can drive policies and practices that support healthy and affordable food choices, identify gaps in the market, and forecast changes in demand and supply.

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Supportive policy environment

To create resilient food systems that prioritise nutrition and food security, a robust policy environment is vital. Effective policies should address existing systemic barriers, encourage sustainable practices, and provide the foundation for a transformation in food systems. Workshop discussions highlighted several key policy measures:

• Incentives for sustainable agriculture: Policies that support farming methods, such as crop rotation, organic practices, and the cultivation of climate-resilient crops, can include tax rebates, input subsidies, and access to low-interest credit. These incentives are essential for encouraging farmers to adapt to sustainable methods that benefit both people and the environment.
• Stable trade policies: Consistent import and export regulations create a stable environment for farmers and traders to balance local production with international market needs. Predictable trade policies can stimulate local agriculture by reducing reliance on imports and enhancing food security.
• Agro-ecological zone-specific policies: Policies tailored to the unique needs of different agro-ecological zones can improve resource management, yield efficiency, and resilience. For example, promoting drought-resistant crops in water-scarce regions helps optimise water use, and ensure that agricultural production is both sustainable and viable in the long-term.
• Targeted support for high-nutrition crops: Policies that prioritise nutrient-rich crops like millet, mung beans, and leafy greens can add diversity to local diets, improving nutritional outcomes and reducing dependency on imported food. Targeted support can also revitalise traditional crops, making them more economically viable and accessible to local communities.

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Enabling infrastructure

A well-developed infrastructure ecosystem underpins food quality, minimises post-harvest losses, and boosts sustainability across the food supply chain. According to workshop participants, several infrastructure improvements are critical:

• Modern storage facilities: Investments in temperature-controlled storage, solar-powered units, and community-managed storage spaces enable smallholder farmers to store perishable goods safely, minimising losses and preserving quality. This enhances the availability of nutritious foods in local markets.
• Strengthening quality assurance and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP): Developing infrastructure to monitor and enforce GAP is essential for producing food that meets both national and international safety and quality standards. Such a measure boosts the export potential of local products, while ensuring the safety and nutritional value of food for domestic consumption.
• Advanced packaging and processing technologies: Innovations in biodegradable packaging, nutrient-preserving technologies, and energy-efficient processing methods reduce food waste, and help maintain the nutritional value of products from farm to table.
• Preservation of nutritional quality in storage: Systems designed to regulate humidity, temperature, and other factors can significantly reduce nutrient loss during storage, preserving the nutritional value of foods over time.

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Concluding thoughts

Building a more resilient and sustainable food system in Sri Lanka requires a multi-pronged approach involving research, policy reform, and infrastructure investment. Through SLYCAN Trust’s commitment to ethical and climate-resilient practices, and its focus on fostering multi-actor partnerships across sectors, there is a pathway to meaningful transformation. By collaborating with policymakers, businesses, researchers, and communities, we can create a food system where nutritious, healthy, affordable, and accessible food is available to everyone, while promoting fair, sustainable production and distribution practices that are resilient against climate change.

Through collective action, Sri Lanka has the potential in pioneering a food system that meets the health needs of its people while safeguarding the environment, serving as a model for other nations striving to build sustainable and resilient food systems.