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When leaders gather for the resumed session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2) next week, part of their discussions is expected to focus on the problems with humanity’s food systems.

A growing body of evidence shows that the way the planet churns out food is driving the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss and pollution and waste, while still leaving an estimated 690 million people hungry.

At UNEA 5.2, which runs from 28 February to 2 March in Nairobi, Kenya, participants will explore how humanity can produce food that is both healthier and less damaging to the environment.

These talks are expected to also focus on farming subsidies. A joint 2021 report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) found 87 per cent of the $540 billion spent annually on agricultural support is either price distorting or harmful to nature and human health.

We recently sat down with Salman Hussain, who heads The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB), a UNEP initiative, to discuss the economic case for boosting nature-positive food production.