State of the Field report
How do we synthesise scientific research into actionable evidence?
The science on agriculture and food systems is scattered. This hinders the ability of policymakers to translate scientific solutions into the most effective policies, strategies and actions. A new approach is needed that can provide policymakers with the evidence based on the prolific research available.
The Juno Evidence Alliance has pioneered an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven approach to summarise research trends and outcomes across agriculture and food systems with the aim of identifying new insights from existing data. It analysed over 6.3 million scientific titles and summaries, from 35,000 academic journals and “grey” reports, published between 2010 to 2023 and made available from CAB Abstracts.
The results are available in the States of the Field for Research in Agrifood Systems report. This report aligns scientific research with policy objectives, focusing on outcomes and interventions appropriate for guiding inclusive and equitable development in food systems across low- and middle-income countries, while shedding light on inequitable practices across global research distribution’s impact.
Main findings from the report
The production of food – crops, livestock, aquaculture, and forestry – results in higher rates of outcomes related to sustainable economic growth, but fewer outcomes fostering inclusivity and gender equity. More research on interventions related to livestock, fisheries, and food storage and processing is needed—especially as farmers face new challenges, many of them due to erratic weather patterns.
The most climate-vulnerable countries with the highest hunger rates are the least studied in research articles by global scientists. Only a small percentage of global scientific research focuses on these critical regions, highlighting the urgent need for action by scientists and increased investments from funders. Some countries are supported with an evidence base of less than 1,000 articles.
Only one out of every eight scientific studies are led by scientists from the 81 poorest countries. When scientists from these countries are marginalized and prevented from contributing to the global conversation, we all miss out on learning relevant lessons from the very regions that are being targeted by policy makers and policy targets.
