Role Of G20 In Enhancing Institutional Quality For Ensuring Global Food Security

Food security (FS) is the availability, access, and affordability of food to meet dietary needs for a healthy life. Institutions that create order in society by reducing uncertainties like resource unavailability, conflict, and poor governance play a crucial role in FS. Key institutional qualities include democracy, the rule of law, control of corruption, political stability, regulatory quality, and property rights. These qualities enhance agricultural productivity and ensure food availability, access, and affordability. Despite technological advancements increasing global food production, challenges such as post-harvest losses, trade policies, supply chain disruptions, conflicts, climate change, lack of cold storage, and pandemics still hinder FS. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that 9.2% of people were unable to meet their dietary needs in 2023, down from 12.7% in 2000. Progress toward global FS is slow, and these challenges hinder the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 2030 commitments despite political pledges at international levels. This policy brief argues that robust institutions, aligned with effective governance, policies, and regulatory frameworks, are crucial for responding to FS challenges. We propose strategic pathways through which institutional quality contributes to FS and call for innovation in institutional quality-building through policy advocacy, capacity building, financial support, infrastructure development, and international collaboration. The brief also aims to guide G20 and G7 nations through Think20 in building a global governance framework for resilience in FS, ensuring food production, access, and utilization.