Accelerating food system transformation in Bangladesh requires a comprehensive approach that addresses food system opportunities including agricultural innovation, climate change adaptation, policy support, market access, nutrition, community engagement, research, international cooperation, foresight analysis, experts have said.
They outlined the need for agricultural innovation and technology, climate-resilient crops, improved irrigation systems, diversified diets, and enforcement of food safety standards.
They also emphasized the importance of supportive agricultural policies, and food systems financing options.
According to experts, the Climate-Smart Agriculture model provides a comprehensive framework adaptable to diverse agricultural systems, addressing specific regional challenges and opportunities in ensuring food security.
These insights were shared by international researchers and educators on the second day of the fourth Foresight4Food Workshop, held on Wednesday in Savar, Dhaka.
The event, organized by the Foresight4Food initiative and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) with the support of the Ministry of Food, Government of Bangladesh, will continue until Friday.
The workshop included two panel discussions with speakers from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP), Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Government of Uganda, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), The World Bank, and Asian Development Bank (ADB)
State Minister for the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Md Abdul Wadud MP, stressed the need for rural focus in transforming Bangladesh’s food system, emphasizing cooperatives role, rural entrepreneurship, and women’s empowerment for a strong rural economy. He said: “Bangladesh is not left behind now. The courage of our leadership is recognized worldwide. I request researchers to give us the opportunity to take the rural people forward.”
He said: "The Foresight for Food System Transformation (FoSTr) program supports Bangladesh and four other focus countries in conducting food systems foresight and scenario analysis."
Mohd. Monirul Islam, Additional Secretary (SDG Affairs) in the Prime Minister’s Office, reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring access to food and nutrition for all.
“Access to food and nutrition to all is a primary commitment of the government of Bangladesh, and it is a priority to reach that goal by 2030,” Monirul said.
Dr Shahnaz Arefin ndc, Secretary of the Statistics and Informatics Division in the Ministry of Planning, said that the FoSTr initiative will be a great supporting tool the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).
“This initiative aims to strengthen the science-policy-practice interface, enabling better-informed decision-making and policy development. BBS's contributions are crucial for achieving a sustainable, equitable, and resilient food system in line with Vision 2041 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” she added.
Patrick Caron, co-chair of Foresight4Food, discussed transitions in foresight.
During a panel discussion, experts emphasized the importance of adopting models with integrated technology, sustainable practices, and robust policy frameworks to ensure food security. They stressed designing sustainable and effective models to increase agricultural productivity, enhance climate resilience, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In the case presentations and interactive sharing sessions, international researchers presented eight case studies. These studies highlighted the use of quantitative modeling within the foresight process, the impact of foresight on structural change, facilitation capacities, and processes relevant to policy and business.
Thijs de Kange from Wageningen University and Research used a global Computable General Equilibrium (global CGE) MAGNET model to provide insights into the magnitude of changes, emphasizing the importance of understanding relative changes over absolute numbers.
The second day of the workshop concluded with strategic sessions on foresight and financing food systems transformation.
The Foresight4Food network aims to link national, regional, and global processes and perspectives. The workshop brought together facilitators and users of foresight along with researchers from various institutions worldwide. It provided a platform for diverse foresight players to explore practical applications at national and local levels.
The workshop also includes a food systems foresight orientation masterclass and field trips to facilitate learning through discussions, inspirational keynotes, interactive sharing sessions, thematic sessions, and networking opportunities. The goal is to demonstrate the transformative power of investing in foresight for food systems.
After successful workshops in Europe, Foresight4Food held this international workshop in Bangladesh to provide easier access for a wider group of interested participants.
Bangladesh is one of the four countries involved in the foresight for food system transformation (FoSTr) program. In collaboration with the government of Bangladesh, the workshop highlighted valuable examples of applied foresight, such as the Dhaka Food Agenda 2041 and the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100.
