Unhealthy diets are a major driver of all forms of malnutrition, including undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and overweight and obesity. At the same time, our food systems contribute about a third of greenhouse gas emissions and degrade natural resources. The 2024 Global Food Policy Report examines policies, innovations, and governance solutions to strengthen diet quality and nutrition sustainably, and highlights the substantial benefits that sustainable healthy diets would bring for people and the planet.

In South Asia, poor diet quality is a major contributor to malnutrition and diet-related noncommunicable diseases. Throughout the region, a heavy reliance on cereals and starchy roots, plus rising consumption of fried snacks and other calorie-dense foods, contribute to rising overweight and obesity even as undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies persist. The relatively high cost of nutrient-rich foods puts healthy diets out of reach for 75 percent of the population, while cereal-centric policies and behavioral and cultural preferences have contributed to the heavy reliance on cereals. 

This event will focus on the drivers of unhealthy diets in the South Asian region and examine how agricultural and food policies and programs can be redesigned to promote production and consumption of nutrient-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables, to achieve healthy diets. Crop-neutral policies, direct cash transfers in lieu of cereal subsidies, taxes and front-of-package labeling on foods high in fat, sugar, and salt are all potential solutions Discussion will focus on the particular challenges and opportunities in the South Asian context to transforming food systems in so that everyone can reap the benefits of sustainable healthy diets. 

More about the report

IFPRI’s 2024 Global Food Policy Report on Food Systems for Healthy Diets and Nutrition draws on a substantial body of research on diets, agriculture, and food systems from IFPRI and CGIAR, in partnership with colleagues around the world. It explores how demand-side approaches can support healthy dietary choices, the need to invest in improving affordability, and ways to strengthen food environments to support healthy diets. The report also highlights supply-side approaches to improve diets, including increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables and assessing the role of animal-source foods, and discusses how effective governance can help achieve change. For each of the world’s major regions, the report identifies critical challenges and opportunities for contextually relevant actions to deliver healthy diets and nutrition for all.