In their current form, food systems are responsible for major environmental and climate impacts, fuel inequalities and cause public health problems. In contrast to siloed strategies that seek to address these issues in isolation, holistic approaches and well-coordinated policies have the potential to maximise the synergies and benefits between these different objectives.
International efforts are underway to address climate change, biodiversity loss and diet-related health issues through a coordinated transformation of food systems – at the global level through the UN negotiations on climate, biodiversity and the Food Systems Coordination Hub, and at the EU level through various strategies, visions and policies.
Within this international context and dynamic, this policy brief analyses and describes the current ambition and progress of the transition towards sustainable food systems in the Czech Republic by reviewing existing national agri-food policies and strategies in three areas: sustainable food production, healthy diets and food waste reduction. It also provides examples of good practice from abroad.
When it comes to food production, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is a key decision-making influence for farmers in the Czech Republic. With the Czech agricultural sector largely focused on increasing productivity, this analysis shows that the current Czech CAP Strategic Plan does not sufficiently address environmental issues specific to Czech agriculture, such as increasing soil degradation and erosion risks, or the lack of ambition to reduce emissions.
With regard to healthy and sustainable diets and waste reduction, the brief reviews existing and new policies promoting more sustainable consumption. However, it concludes that a more systemic and cross-sectoral approach, including behavioural change measures, is needed to bring Czech efforts in line with international best practice.
