Moving forward

This document provides practical guidance for strengthening SPIs for agrifood systems at the national level. It is functionally designed to assist national SPIs at multiple stages, and addresses the following key areas:

The “Why”: Reflects on the necessity for a national SPI by analysing its potential benefits in addressing country-specific agrifood system challenges and mapping and understanding the science–policy advisory ecosystem.
The “What”: Details the essential components of a functional SPI, including its aims, roles, guiding principles, and the three broad SPI models.
The “How”: Describes the core structural elements needed for an effective, just, and equitable SPI. This includes the roles of the convenor and stakeholders, the SPI’s scale and scope, and its governance. It also covers procedural elements such as operationalization, capacity development activities, and the importance of learning and reflexivity to achieve the desired impact.

This document serves as a timely and relevant starting point for reflecting on how to strengthen interactions between knowledge producers, intermediaries, and users in policymaking for agrifood system transformation. It offers a selection of tools, good practices and case studies to help illustrate and explain real-world examples in practice.

As we draw closer to 2030 and other critical deadlines for key agrifood policy frameworks and targets, this guidance aims to offer valuable insights for Member States and partners. It seeks to create opportunities for knowledge exchange and facilitate learning among stakeholders looking to enhance SPIs for the transformation of agrifood systems. The guidance will be piloted in various countries to test, inform and refine its applicability in real-world contexts, ensuring its relevance and effectiveness. This approach will also promote contributions from and ownership by countries and help identify challenges and best practices that may emerge during implementation.

Creating effective SPIs is a long-term endeavour necessitating sustained commitment and investment from diverse stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, civil society, academia, Indigenous Peoples, small-scale producers and the private sector. Given that agrifood systems are dynamic and interconnected, the importance of multistakeholder partnerships cannot be overstated; these collaborations leverage complementary strengths, resources, and networks to tackle the complex challenges associated with poverty, food insecurity and rural development. Ultimately, cultivating political will and institutional support is essential for prioritizing evidence-informed policymaking that effectively integrates diverse sources of evidence throughout the policy process.

5.3 Learning and reflexivity for the SPI in relation to desired impact

Required citation:

FAO 2024. Guidance on strengthening national science–policy interfaces for agrifood systems. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cd3125en

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