IFAD Research Series 73: Food systems and rural wellbeing: challenges and opportunities

Creating a policy landscape that aligns rural poverty alleviation with food systems transformation requires a better understanding of: the wide set of inequalities and vulnerabilities affecting poverty and hunger; the diversity of rural households; and the impact of rapid structural changes in markets, the environment, and the political economic context. This paper provides a framework for assessing the dynamics of rural wellbeing and food systems change. It provides a synthesis of over 840 recommendations made in recent international reports on the linkages between food systems and rural development. It also looks at the viability of small-scale farming and the diversification of livelihood options needed to overcome rural poverty and inequality.