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Agrifood systems are complex networks in which agriculture, food, livelihoods, health, environment, and policy intersect. Transforming these systems requires moving beyond fragmented interventions toward coordinated actions that create lasting benefits across sectors and communities.
Image Source: FAO
Agrifood systems play a crucial role in achieving food security and sustainable development. They encompass the interconnected activities, people, policies, practices, and institutions involved in producing, processing, distributing, consuming, and managing food and agricultural products. These systems also extend beyond food to include products such as biofuels, wood, and other agricultural resources that contribute to livelihoods and economic development. Because agrifood systems operate across local, national, regional, and global levels and are closely linked with environmental, economic, social, health, and political systems, actions in one area can have significant effects on others.
Agrifood systems transformation seeks to harness these connections to achieve better and more lasting outcomes. It involves moving toward systems that are efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable, while simultaneously improving agricultural productivity, nutrition and health, environmental sustainability, and livelihoods. This requires decision-makers to look beyond isolated interventions and consider the broader effects of policies, programs, investments, and projects. For example, agricultural interventions should also consider their implications for nutrition, environmental sustainability, livelihoods, and equality. Understanding relationships, trade-offs, and feedback mechanisms within the system can help identify actions that generate benefits beyond a single sector or immediate objective.
To support this transformation, a systems approach encourages policymakers and practitioners to move from fragmented actions toward more integrated and coordinated solutions. One important strategy is to identify strategic entry points where targeted interventions can address constraints and create broader, long-term improvements across the system.
Figure 1. Ten key relationships in agrifood systems
The approach is guided by six interconnected practices: systems thinking, systems knowledge, systems governance, systems doing, systems investment, and systems learning. Together, these practices emphasize understanding connections, strengthening collaboration and knowledge, aligning actions and investments, and continuously learning and adapting.
Figure 2. The six elements of a systems approach to agrifood systems transformation
Reference: FAO 2025. Transforming food and agriculture through a systems approach. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/cd6071en
