Organic Food System: an overview and its challenges for healthy food systems

The global food system is complex and faces various socio-economic, cultural, health, technological, and environmental challenges. The Organic Food System Program is an initiative aimed at measuring the performance of principal organic practices among all operators (producers, processors, and traders) in the journey towards a sustainable food system. This paper explores the role of the organic food system in promoting a sustainable and healthy food system. To gather information, country representatives presented the existing and future challenges in the organic food system during a workshop held in Goesan County, Republic of Korea. Each presentation was documented, analyzed, and critiqued, culminating in the conclusion that organic agriculture can play a supportive role in creating a healthy food system. This topic was extensively discussed during the International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR) workshop, held from October 1 to 3, 2022, in conjunction with the IFOAM Organic Expo in Goesan County, Republic of Korea. Nine active scientists working on organic agriculture and food systems worldwide attended this workshop, and this paper is a result of their discussion. This paper suggests that to achieve a healthy food system, stakeholders must understand sustainable nutrient cycles and adopt life cycle thinking methods within the organic food system. The paper also highlights the importance of considering eco-efficiency in the system and using internet technologies to improve a healthy food system.