The Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition

The Global Panel works with international, multi-sector stakeholders, to help governments in low- and middle-income countries develop evidence-based policies that make high-quality diets safe, affordable and accessible, through sustainable food systems. It was formally established in August 2013 at the Nutrition for Growth Summit in London and was funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) up until April 2021. Since April, the Global Panel have been pleased to secure funding from The African Development Bank Group, Children's Investment Fund Foundation, Irish Aid and The Rockefeller Foundation. The Panel is chaired by Sir John Beddington (former UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser) and works across food, agriculture and nutrition, bridging gaps and examining food systems in a wider socio-political and economic context. This is described in the Panel’s technical brief on food systems. Panel members convene international and regional high-level round table meetings and use their extensive networks in governments, civil society, academia and industry to bring together and influence policymakers from different sectors in the food system. Their influence is delivered through evidence-based technical and policy briefs, the Foresight Report and tailored country/regional papers, that are produced by the Global Panel Secretariat in London, Panel members and experts. These documents contain recommendations for potential policy interventions at a national and regional level. The Panel’s Secretariat is hosted by the London International Development Center (LIDC) within the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). This gives us unique access to the world class research, academic facilities and scientists within LSHTM, with whom we share many common goals. Although we operate as an independent body, our strategic ambitions align well with LSHTM, particularly the LSHTM Nutrition Group, for example taking an evidence-led approach to sustainably improving global health, nutrition and and food-related problems in low and middle income counties.