Shaping food security narratives: A strategic tool for climate action

Philanthropic funders can leverage food security narratives for climate action.

Food insecurity is rising globally, driven by climate change, conflict, economic disruption, limited resources, and inequality. At the same time, food systems are responsible for roughly 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making food security both a climate risk and a climate solution.

This report explores how the ways we talk about food security influence power, policy, and investment decisions. These existing narratives can either reinforce the status quo or be updated to unlock transformative climate action. Drawing on original research conducted across Africa, Latin America, South Asia, Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe, the report examines how food security narratives are increasingly used to justify opposition to climate action and outlines how philanthropy can strategically intervene to shift the debate.

The report is based on research led by RUAF CIC, in partnership with regional partners Comida do Amanhã, Zero Hunger Institute, Regenera Institute, the African Food Systems Transformation Collective, and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, as well as independent consultants.

Key takeaways from the report

• Food security and climate change are interconnected parts of a single global crisis, and food security narratives offer a powerful way to align these agendas.
• Philanthropy has a clear opportunity to shape these narratives in ways that better sync political food security goals with climate action, while still reflecting regional differences.
• Effective coordination depends on broad and sometimes unconventional coalitions that bridge civil society, farmers’ movements, academia, and progressive private-sector actors. 
• Interventions must be carefully timed to capitalize on moments of opportunity.
• Narrative change is strongest when philanthropic funders and civil society collaborate to identify, test, and refine messages and messengers that resonate with key decision-makers.
• The most compelling narratives combine credible evidence with human-centered storytelling, use accessible language, rely on trusted messengers, and reflect a deep understanding of target audiences.
• Effective narratives are grounded in local and regional realities rather than imposed at a global level.

(Photo credit: CR Shelare / Getty Images)