Using foresight for food systems transformation: A guide for policy makers, practitioners, and researchers
As global food systems face mounting pressures—from climate change and biodiversity loss to social inequality and economic volatility—futures thinking has become an essential tool for navigating uncertainty and driving transformative change. Using Foresight for Food Systems Transformation is a new practical guide developed jointly by the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub and Foresight4Food to help policy makers, practitioners, and researchers apply strategic foresight approaches to national food systems transformation. Grounded in real-world experiences across diverse country contexts, the guide introduces key concepts, participatory tools, and a four-phase framework to support evidence-informed decision-making, inclusive stakeholder engagement, and the development of resilient, equitable, and sustainable food system pathways. As part of the follow-up to the 2nd UN Food Systems Summit 2025 Stocktake (UNFSS+4), this guide is a resource to inspire long-term thinking, build collective vision, and strengthen national capacities for systemic change—because the future of food starts with the choices we make today. This Version 1.0 is released as a living document, and we welcome feedback to inform its continued improvement and relevance over time.
