Andrea Cattaneo, Senior Economist at the FAO, delves into the hidden costs of agrifood systems in South Asia, highlighting their economic, environmental, and health impacts. Drawing insights from FAO’s State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) report, he examines how these costs manifest in countries like India and Bangladesh, where dietary risks and environmental burdens are pressing concerns. Andrea explores solutions at the nexus of climate change and nutrition, emphasizing the key role of true cost accounting (TCA), nutrition-sensitive social protection, institutional procurement, and coordinated action among stakeholders. By integrating these strategies, agrifood systems can be transformed to enhance sustainability, improve nutrition, and build resilience for future generations.


The fourth edition of the Knowledge Exchange Series features pre-recorded expert videos for participants to watch ahead of a 90-minute dialogue session. In collaboration with SAPLING, this series showcases innovative solutions emerging in South Asia, offering practical, actionable strategies to address key challenges at the intersection of agrifood systems, nutrition, and climate change.