The global food system is facing significant challenges from resource limitations and climate change even while trying to ensure food accessibility and affordability. Despite being a major producer of milk, fruits, vegetables, grains and livestock, India struggles with nutritional issues, which include undernutrition and overnutrition, alongside widespread micronutrient deficiencies. These jeopardise its demographic dividend and economic resilience. Ranked 105 out of 127 countries in the Global Hunger Index 2024, India’s food insecurity requires urgent action.
The data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 2019-21 is cause for concern: nearly 194 million Indians are undernourished. Among children under five, 35.5% are stunted, 32.1% are underweight, and 19.3% suffer from wasting. Simultaneously, there is a worrying increase in overweight and obesity, affecting 24% of women and 22.9% of men. Additionally, 57% of women of reproductive age are anaemic, underscoring the widespread issue of hidden hunger. Thus, there needs to be a comprehensive strategy to address malnutrition in a holistic manner.
Globally, food system failures cost nearly $12 trillion annually through health, nutrition, and environmental degradation. For India, with its fast-growing population and climate vulnerabilities, such as unsustainable trajectory is not an option. Yet, within this crisis lies a powerful opportunity — transforming food systems around nutrition, sustainability and equity can boost national well-being and support progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The nutrition challenge as a perfect storm
Food insecurity is no longer just about hunger. It now encompasses all forms of malnutrition, including diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Millions, including food producers, struggle to afford a healthy diet. According to the FAO, 55.6% of Indians are unable to afford nutritious food, with the cost rising to $3.36 purchasing power parity (PPP) per person per day in 2022 from $2.86 in 2017.
Structural flaws in food systems exacerbate this issue, while climate change further threatens crop yields, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of small-scale farmers, deepening nutritional vulnerability.
If unaddressed, malnutrition will continue to impede human capital development, drive up health-care costs, and reduce economic productivity.
Transforming food systems
A shift towards sustainable, nutrition-sensitive food systems can ensure that healthy, safe food is accessible and affordable for all. This transformation demands a multi-sectoral approach involving governments, businesses, communities, and the health and nutrition sectors.
To achieve a meaningful transformation, several key strategies must be implemented in a cohesive and sustained manner. Nutrition-sensitive agriculture is central, requiring agricultural policies that integrate nutrition objectives by promoting the cultivation of climate-resilient, biofortified crops, enhancing crop diversity, and improving post-harvest storage systems to bolster food security and dietary quality. Community-led nutrition interventions such as the Nutrition-Sensitive Community Planning (NSCP) model enable local communities to address nutrition determinants including soil and water conservation, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), and health-care access through a bottom-up approach.
School-based nutrition programmes such as Nutri-Pathshala help combat childhood malnutrition by incorporating biofortified grains into school meals, while also supporting local agriculture by sourcing from nearby farmers. Strengthening social safety nets is essential to ensure that vulnerable populations have access to nutritious food — this involves enhancing the Public Distribution System (PDS) and mid-day meal schemes with nutrient-rich, indigenous foods and integrating behavioural change campaigns that encourage healthy eating.
The private sector must contribute by moving beyond conventional food production to prioritise nutrition, through clearer labelling, digital education tools such as QR codes on packaging, and innovation in fortification, plant-based alternatives, and nutrient-dense foods, supported by effective regulations and incentives. Tackling underlying climate and economic vulnerabilities is another cornerstone, necessitating climate-smart agriculture, expanded rural economic opportunities and gender-sensitive policies that build resilience against shocks.
Finally, widespread awareness campaigns are indispensable; grass-roots efforts using interactive tools such as the ‘MyPlate Blast Off’ game and radio programming can disseminate vital nutritional information, especially in areas with limited digital access, fostering informed and healthier communities.
To achieve SDGs 2, 3, and 12 (‘Zero Hunger’, ‘Good Health and Well-Being’ and ‘Responsible Consumption and Production’) place-based innovation is key. Research by TERI and the Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU) in the Himalayas has highlighted the importance of socio-technical innovation bundles. These include region-specific, micronutrient-rich crops, decentralised processing, and local food networks connecting farmers, processors, and consumers. Strengthening these community-based systems can enhance nutrition security.
Role of nutrition and health communities
The health and nutrition sectors are vital in driving food system transformation. Nutritionists, public health experts and policymakers must collaborate to embed nutrition into agriculture and economic planning. Tackling malnutrition and NCDs requires systemic approaches that address inequality and promote climate resilience. The NSCP and Nutri-Pathshala show the power of integrating nutrition with agriculture, education and social development.
Incremental change is no longer enough. A bold transformation of food systems is essential. Governments must align policies with nutrition, businesses must adopt sustainable practices, and civil society must push for inclusive, community-led solutions. Nutrition must guide how we shape food systems, economies, and policies. A nourished population is the bedrock of a resilient and equitable society. The challenge is vast, but so is the opportunity. The time to act is now.
Manish Anand is a senior fellow at TERI and a member of the Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU). Vidhu Gupta is a Project Research Scientist at IIT Roorkee
Published – May 10, 2025 12:08 am IST