The Private Sector's Role in Global Nutrition
The private sector plays a pivotal role in enhancing access to more nutritious foods. Malnutrition, in all its forms, affects every country worldwide. The societal costs are staggering, ranging from poor growth outcomes in undernourished children to the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases. What incentives can encourage companies to prioritise the healthiness of their product portfolios and overall food environments? What role does the investor community need to play in influencing businesses to place greater emphasis on nutrition in their ESG metrics?
Effective policies are vital to incentivize producers to prioritise nutrition and combat worsening nutrition-related issues. These policies must be coupled with strategies ensuring that nutritious food is accessible and affordable for all consumers. This becomes particularly crucial as companies might shift focus to lower-income markets in response to stricter regulations on unhealthy foods in Europe. To prevent this, transparency is essential in product portfolios, lobbying efforts, and ESG disclosures related to nutrition.
Investors have a pivotal role to play as well. Poor nutrition results in significant financial consequences, including increased healthcare costs and economic burdens. By actively advocating for improved nutrition practices, investors can leverage their influence to drive meaningful change.
Hosted by the Financial Times and the Access to Nutrition Initiative, this session will bring together leading figures from policy, finance, and the food industry to discuss the materiality of poor nutrition, the economic and societal costs, and effective strategies to enhance access to better nutrition globally.
Key questions to be addressed
Are companies making food environments healthier?
What policies can help shape healthier markets?
What additional policy measures are needed to prevent worsening nutrition-related issues?
How can nutritious food be made more accessible and affordable across different economic contexts?
How can investors exert greater influence in driving better nutrition practices?
Speaking Opportunities
Ruta Gnedeviciute
ruta.gnedeviciute@ft.com
Delegate Services
Monica Lu
monica.lu@ft.com
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