The Integral Role of Food Safety in Strengthening Food Systems

Food safety is an increasingly relevant development priority that underpins achieving sustainable progress toward the Global Food Security Strategy (GFSS), USAID’s Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Strategy (MSNS), and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To maximize our investments and make progress toward the GFSS objectives of agriculture-led economic growth, strengthening the resiliency of people and systems, and fostering well- nourished communities, particularly women and children, USAID is promoting the adoption of improved food safety practices throughout the food system.

This technical brief (919 KB) will:
1. Provide the latest evidence linking food safety to GFSS development objectives.
2. Highlight why food safety is a growing development priority and how it plays a key role in achieving outcomes including improved nutrition; Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH); resilience; gender equity; and agriculture-led economic growth.
3. Outline the utility of a risk-based approach and steps USAID Missions can take to incorporate food safety into planning and programming.
4. Cite illustrative case studies of food safety challenges and how the U.S. Government works with local organizations, development partners, and local governments to address these issues.