The main contents of the meeting included:
(i) Discussion on the set of priority indicators for each component of the food system;
(ii) Determination of the roles of various organizations in implementing Decision 300/QD-TTg on the transformation of the food system;
(iii) Compilation of current programs/projects supporting improvements in nutrition, health, socio-economic conditions, and the environment in Son La Province.
The meeting was attended by representatives from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Department of Industry and Trade, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the Department of Health of Son La Province, and experts from the province, as well as specialists from the inter-agency task force.
Photo: Participants of the consultation meeting on the current status of the food system in Son La Province
At the meeting, Ms. Pham Thi Hanh Tho, a representative of the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences, provided an overview of the conceptual framework of the food system and the process of assessing the current status of the provincial food system. According to her, the food system in Son La Province includes information on the food supply chain, food environment, individual factors and consumer behavior, as well as the outcomes and impacts of the food system (including dietary, nutritional, and health outcomes, as well as socio-economic and environmental outcomes). This information and data will serve as a reliable resource for provincial agencies to understand the current status and issues within the food system, enabling actions and solutions to ensure a transparent, responsible, and sustainable transformation of the food system by 2030 as outlined in Decision 300/QD-TTg.
Photo: Ms. Pham Thi Hanh Tho presenting the global approach to the food system
Also during the meeting, representatives from the Biodiversity Alliance and CIAT shared their ongoing activities in Son La Province, presented a draft set of indicators for the food system profile, and gave an overview of the food system's current status in the province. Following local consultations on November 7, 2024, the number of indicators for evaluating the food system's current status in Son La Province was adjusted from the initial 173 to 123, with 98 indicators under consideration for inclusion in the assessment.
To determine and consolidate research outcomes, the inter-agency task force gathered input from attendees and experts during the meeting in specialized group discussions. These discussions facilitated in-depth exchanges and effective feedback on the topics under consultation.
This meeting gathered numerous significant contributions from representatives of various departments, sectors, and experts. These inputs form the basis for the research team to continue finalizing the report on the current status of the food system in Son La Province, helping to guide appropriate solutions for the province in the near future.