Global efforts to transform food systems are not progressing fast enough to meet many of the international targets set for 2030, according to the latest 2026 Food Systems Countdown assessment.
The study, developed by the Food Systems Countdown Initiative in collaboration with organizations including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Cornell University, Johns Hopkins University and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, examined food-system performance across 197 countries. Researchers assessed indicators covering diets and nutrition, environmental sustainability, livelihoods, governance and resilience.
Most Indicators Remain Behind Schedule
The assessment presents a challenging picture of global food-system transformation. For 22 indicators, fewer than one-third of countries are projected to achieve the relevant 2030 target or benchmark at the current pace of progress.
The analysis also found that only one of the assessed indicators—mobile phone subscriptions, used as a proxy for connectedness and resilience—has already reached the benchmark in most countries.
This indicates that improvements in individual parts of food systems have not yet translated into sufficient progress across the wider system.
Food Security and Nutrition Remain Major Concerns
Access to affordable and nutritious food continues to be a major challenge in many parts of the world. Persistent food insecurity, limited access to healthy diets and nutritional problems remain closely connected with poverty, inequality and the performance of agricultural and food markets.
The report emphasizes that food-system transformation cannot be addressed through agricultural production alone. Nutrition, affordability, livelihoods, environmental management and governance are interconnected and need to be considered together.
Regional differences are also substantial. The assessment indicates that some regions would need very rapid annual improvements to close existing gaps by 2030.
Environmental Pressures Remain Significant
Environmental sustainability is another area where progress remains insufficient.
Food-system greenhouse-gas emissions are among the indicators with the largest gap from the relevant target. According to the assessment, the global average is approximately 75% away from the target, and no country is currently projected to reach the target by 2030 if existing progress rates continue.
Other environmental indicators, including agricultural water withdrawals and pesticide use, have also moved in unfavorable directions in recent years.
Livelihoods and Governance Matter
The report also highlights the importance of farmer livelihoods, poverty reduction, equity and effective governance.
Food systems involve millions of farmers, workers, processors, traders and consumers. Weaknesses in one part of this network can create consequences elsewhere, particularly when countries face climate shocks, economic disruptions or food-price volatility.
Governance and accountability are therefore identified as important areas for accelerating wider food-system transformation.
2050 Goals Still Considered Achievable
Despite the difficulties surrounding the 2030 targets, the assessment does not suggest that long-term food-system transformation is impossible.
Researchers say that 2050 objectives could remain achievable if countries significantly accelerate and sustain progress. The report also identifies areas where countries and regions are already moving in the desired direction.
The assessment suggests that regional benchmarks can also provide more realistic milestones for countries that are far from global targets.
Need for Faster Action
The findings place greater emphasis on the speed of change during the remaining years of the 2030 agenda. Governments, businesses, farmers, researchers and international organizations will need to address food insecurity, healthy-diet affordability, environmental pressures and resilience together rather than treating them as separate challenges.
The Food Systems Countdown Initiative provides annual monitoring to help track these changes and identify where additional action is required.
For the global agriculture and food sector, the 2026 assessment sends a clear signal: current progress is insufficient across many key indicators, but faster and sustained transformation could still improve the trajectory toward longer-term food-system goals.
By
