Milsom, Penelope ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9605-6978, Mayhew, Susannah ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2433-3809, Dominguez Salas, Paula ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8753-4221, Katsande, Aloisia ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5680-4118, Tchuwa, Frank ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0843-6461, Kambewa, Daimon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8506-9650, Slater, Scott ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2642-8609 and Walls, Helen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0538-3859 (2026) A critical analysis of global sustainable food system recommendations and their transformative potential – with a focus on Sub-Saharan African settings. Agriculture and Human Values, 43:59. ISSN 0889-048X (Print), 1572-8366 (Online) (doi:10.1007/s10460-025-10843-9)

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Abstract

Industrialised food systems are unsustainable and vulnerable to the effects of climate change, conflicts, and other global shocks, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). As such, food system transformation is needed to create environmentally sustainable, healthy, resilient, and equitable food systems. This review aimed to identify interventions recommended by global-level institutions to promote sustainable food systems, describe their impact pathways, and assess their transformative potential, particularly in SSA contexts. Drawing on existing frameworks, we developed a modified sustainable food system conceptual model suitable for application in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) contexts. We conducted a purposive literature review identifying 17 key global-level reports containing recommended interventions for sustainable food system transformation published from July 2020 – July 2023. We mapped the interventions against the conceptual framework and critically assessed their potential to contribute to sustainable food system transformation. We identified 27 action areas mapping to ten entry points on the conceptual framework. Most actions focused on food supply and food environments, few addressed food-system drivers. Little attention was paid to financial and commercial drivers and agri-food corporate power in food systems. Few reports called for investment in locally-led research and innovation to identify context-appropriate and feasible solutions. Global-level reports do not offer a blueprint for sustainable food system transformation in SSA. Governments and development partners must resist singularly pursuing agri-business market-based solutions and instead build global and regional alliances to transform upstream food-system drivers and power relations, and demand investment in local research and innovation.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	food system transformation, Sub-Saharan Africa
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GF Human ecology. Anthropogeography S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Engineering & Science Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Centre for Food Systems Research Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Centre for Food Systems Research > Food Systems & Nutrition
Last Modified:	15 May 2026 09:32
URI:	https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/53414

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