Todays food systems do not meet the food and nutrition security needs

Question

Today’s food systems do not meet the food and nutrition security needs of a growing global population and create significant environmental and health costs. As such, a comprehensive transformation is required in the way our food is produced — including the practices of more than 500 million smallholder farmers — and the consumption patterns of 7.7 billion people. To enable such a transformation while meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, several transitions are required: to healthier food, to sustainable agricultural practices that protect and restore nature, and to greater efficiency in the production, distribution, and consumption of food.

This transformation requires the right set of incentives for food system actors — incentives that can overcome all the hurdles preventing stakeholders from making a change, as well as incentives that address the costs of behavioral change, mitigate the costs of transition to better technology, and, potentially, fund ongoing economic costs. These incentives must fill knowledge and awareness gaps and be powerful enough to change the mindsets of billions of individuals. Therefore, the key to transforming food systems lies in reimagining incentives. Many of the current incentive mechanisms were put in place decades ago, when development imperatives such as food security and self-sufficiency took center stage. As the world has moved toward a more holistic and integrated understanding of food systems, one that meets aspirations for healthy people and a sustainable planet, there is a need to repurpose existing incentives and create new ones where required.   1 
 1. Which of the following actions is most clearly an example of a necessary incentive for the comprehensive transformation in the food system described in the passage?

A. A food company's marketing campaign highlighting the company's emphasis on food security
B. A government subsidizing the upgrade of equipment necessary for sustainable agricultural practices
C. A farmers' community practicing agro-tourism to create an additional source of income
D. A government advocating local production of all foods to ensure food independence
E. A food company optimizing the production and distribution of its packaged food items

2 
 2. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage to be true about the times in which current incentive mechanisms were developed?

A. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals were not enforced in those times.
B. People in those times didn't aspire to be healthy, as most people do today.
C. Sustainable agricultural practices were not the norm in those times.
D. In those times, the world focused on a smaller set of objectives related to food systems than it does today.
E. Food systems in those times did not emphasize efficiency in the production, distribution, and consumption of food.

3 
 3. Each of the following represents a transition necessary for the food system's transformation mentioned in the passage EXCEPT

A. People’s preference for a more nutritious diet
B. Farmers' commitment to socially responsible practices
C. Food companies redesigning business-models to optimize operations
D. Governments revising agricultural policy to incorporate environmental responsibility
E. Food companies developing practices to reduce marketing expenses

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vasu1104 · Answer

passage 1= introduction to current food systems problem and suggesting some transformation to undertake. 
 passage 2= talks about the need to provide incentives for such transformation to take place. also talks about current incentive mechanism that were introduced decades ago and need to repurpose those incentives.

Q-1 
 passage 2 is more useful here. and the first 2 sentences forms the basis for choosing right ans.

A. A food company's marketing campaign highlighting the company's emphasis on food security
this is company's self interest so not right.

B. A government subsidizing the upgrade of equipment necessary for sustainable agricultural practices
as the passage says to mitigate the transition cost and fund ongoing economic cost. so this is correct ans.

C. A farmers' community practicing agro-tourism to create an additional source of income
not concerned with creating additional income here. out

D. A government advocating local production of all foods to ensure food independence
but that doesnt fill the gap of awareness and knowledge. so out

E. A food company optimizing the production and distribution of its packaged food items
this is part of transitions and not of incentives. out

Q-2
 passage says that current incentives were put in place decades ago when development such as food security and self sufficiency was main target.

A. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals were not enforced in those times. 
 nothing about UN goals has been mentioned. out

B. People in those times didn't aspire to be healthy, as most people do today. 
 so why there was food security if they were not interested in being healthy? out.

C. Sustainable agricultural practices were not the norm in those times. 
 irrelevant.

D. In those times, the world focused on a smaller set of objectives related to food systems than it does today. 
 yes. as passage mentioned only two factors were main consideration and then it also mentioned in first passage the goals for transformation. so based on all that, we can infer this one.

E. Food systems in those times did not emphasize efficiency in the production, distribution, and consumption of food. 
 we have no info about efficiency of all these factors in old times

Q-3 
 passage mention three main transitions
healthier food
sustainable agri practices that protect and restore nature
greater efficiency in production, distribution and consumption of food.

A. People’s preference for a more nutritious diet.
this falls in first point.

B. Farmers' commitment to socially responsible practices
this in second practice

C. Food companies redesigning business-models to optimize operations
under the third point.

D. Governments revising agricultural policy to incorporate environmental responsibility
under second point.

E. Food companies developing practices to reduce marketing expenses
no mention for such practices so this is the ans

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

Mind-map   
  
  To indicate that a comprehensive transformation is required in the current food system (Paragraph 1)  
  To propose that the right set of incentives for food system actors is necessary (Paragraph 2)  
  
  = = = = = = = = = =

1.   Which of the following actions is most clearly an example of a necessary incentive for the comprehensive transformation in the food system described in the passage?

a.   A food company's marketing campaign highlighting the company's emphasis on food security 
  b.     A government subsidizing the upgrade of equipment necessary for sustainable agricultural practices  
 c.   A farmers' community practicing agro-tourism to create an additional source of income 
 d.   A government advocating local production of all foods to ensure food independence 
 e.   A food company optimizing the production and distribution of its packaged food items

Question Type: Inference

Explanation:

The second paragraph proposes that the right set of incentives for food system actors is necessary   . In doing so, the paragraph mentions that “incentives that can overcome all the hurdles preventing stakeholders from making a change, as well as incentives that address the costs of behavioral change, mitigate the costs of transition to better technology, and, potentially, fund ongoing economic costs” act as   the   “right set of incentives for food system actors” and that these incentives “must fill knowledge and awareness gaps and be powerful enough to change the mindsets of billions of individuals”. Each answer choice needs to be carefully evaluated in light of the information presented in this context.

A. The second paragraph mentions that “incentives that can overcome all the hurdles preventing stakeholders from making a change, as well as incentives that address the costs of behavioral change, mitigate the costs of transition to better technology, and, potentially, fund ongoing economic costs” act as   the   “right set of incentives for food system actors” and that these incentives “must fill knowledge and awareness gaps and be powerful enough to change the mindsets of billions of individuals”;   a food company's marketing campaign highlighting the company's emphasis on food security doesn’t perform any of the actions that a necessary incentive is expected to perform  . Additionally, the paragraph subsequently states that “many of the current incentive mechanisms were put in place decades ago, when development imperatives such as food security and self-sufficiency took center stage”, suggesting that the “emphasis on food security” is an example of “the current incentive mechanisms” and not an incentive necessary for the comprehensive transformation in   the   food system described in the passage. Incorrect.

B.  Correct . The second paragraph mentions that   incentives that “mitigate the costs of transition to better technology” act as “right set of incentives for food system actors”  ; a government subsidizing the upgrade of equipment necessary for sustainable agricultural practices mitigates the costs of transition for food system actors, and acts as an example of a necessary incentive for the comprehensive transformation in   the   food system described in the passage.

C. The second paragraph mentions that “incentives that can overcome all the hurdles preventing stakeholders from making a change, as well as incentives that address the costs of behavioral change, mitigate the costs of transition to better technology, and, potentially, fund ongoing economic costs” act as   the   “right set of incentives for food system actors” and that these incentives “must fill knowledge and awareness gaps and be powerful enough to change the mindsets of billions of individuals”;   a farmers' community practicing agro-tourism to create an additional source of income doesn’t perform any of the actions that a necessary incentive is expected to perform  . Incorrect.

D. The second paragraph mentions that “incentives that can overcome all the hurdles preventing stakeholders from making a change, as well as incentives that address the costs of behavioral change, mitigate the costs of transition to better technology, and, potentially, fund ongoing economic costs” act as   the   “right set of incentives for food system actors” and that these incentives “must fill knowledge and awareness gaps and be powerful enough to change the mindsets of billions of individuals”;   a government advocating local production of all foods to ensure food independence doesn’t perform any of the actions that a necessary incentive is expected to perform  . Additionally, the paragraph subsequently states that “many of the current incentive mechanisms were put in place decades ago, when development imperatives such as food security and self-sufficiency took center stage”, suggesting that the “advocacy of food independence” is an example of “the current incentive mechanisms” and not likely an incentive necessary for the comprehensive transformation in   the   food system described in the passage. Incorrect.

E. The second paragraph mentions that “incentives that can overcome all the hurdles preventing stakeholders from making a change, as well as incentives that address the costs of behavioral change, mitigate the costs of transition to better technology, and, potentially, fund ongoing economic costs” act as   the   “right set of incentives for food system actors” and that these incentives “must fill knowledge and awareness gaps and be powerful enough to change the mindsets of billions of individuals”;   a food company optimizing the production and distribution of its packaged food items doesn’t perform any of the actions that a necessary incentive is expected to perform  . Incorrect.

B is the best choice.   
  
 = = = = = = = = = =  
  
   2.   Which of the following can be inferred from the passage to be true about the times in which current incentive mechanisms were developed?

A. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals were not enforced in those times.
B. People in those times didn't aspire to be healthy, as most people do today.
C. Sustainable agricultural practices were not the norm in those times.
 D. In those times, the world focused on a smaller set of objectives related to food systems than it does today. 
E. Food systems in those times did not emphasize efficiency in the production, distribution, and consumption of food.

Question Type: Inference

Explanation:

The second paragraph mentions that “Many of the current incentive mechanisms were put in place decades ago, when  development imperatives such as food security and self-sufficiency took center stage . As  the world has moved toward a more holistic and integrated understanding  of food systems, one that meets aspirations for healthy people and a sustainable planet, there is a need to repurpose existing incentives and create new ones where required”. Each answer choice needs to be carefully evaluated in light of the information presented in this context.

A. The first paragraph mentions that several transitions are required to enable a comprehensive transformation of food systems while meeting “the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals”; the second paragraph mentions that “Many of the current incentive mechanisms were put in place decades ago, when development imperatives such as food security and self-sufficiency took center stage”;   the passage makes no connection between these two references  ; so, it cannot be established that the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals were not enforced in the times in which current incentive mechanisms were developed, as the answer choice mentions. Furthermore, our expectation from the correct answer choice is on the lines that it indicates that “development imperatives such as food security and self-sufficiency took center stage” in the times in which the current incentive mechanisms were developed, as opposed to today’s “more holistic and integrated” approach. Incorrect.

B. Trap. The second paragraph mentions that “Many of the current incentive mechanisms were put in place decades ago, when development imperatives such as food security and self-sufficiency took center stage. As the world has moved towards a more holistic and integrated understanding of food systems, one that meets aspirations for healthy people and a sustainable planet, there is a need to repurpose existing incentives and create new ones where required”; the passage makes a reference to current food systems’ “aspirations for healthy people” but   does not suggest that most people today “aspire to be healthy, or “people in those times didn't aspire to be healthy”  , as the answer choice mentions. Furthermore, our expectation from the correct answer choice is on the lines that it indicates that “development imperatives such as food security and self-sufficiency took center stage” in the times in which the current incentive mechanisms were developed, as opposed to today’s “more holistic and integrated” approach. Incorrect.

C.   The passage makes reference to     m  any agricultural practices in the current or earlier time  s  ; so, it cannot be established that sustainable agricultural practices were not the norm in the times in which current incentive mechanisms were developed, as the answer choice mentions. Furthermore, our expectation from the correct answer choice is on the lines that it indicates that “development imperatives such as food security and self-sufficiency took center stage” in the times in which the current incentive mechanisms were developed, as opposed to today’s “more holistic and integrated” approach. Incorrect.

D.  Correct . The second paragraph suggests that in the times when the current incentive mechanisms were developed, the focus was on   “imperatives such as food security and self-sufficiency”,   but as today’s food systems aspire for “healthy people and a sustainable planet”, new incentives need to be in place for   “more holistic and integrated” food systems  ; in other words, the passage suggests that in the times in which current incentive mechanisms were developed, the world focused on a smaller set of objectives related to food systems than it does today, as the answer choice mentions.

E.   The passage makes no reference to the emphasis on efficiency of food systems in the current or earlier time    s  ; so, it cannot be established that food systems in those times did not emphasize efficiency in the production, distribution, and consumption of food in the times in which current incentive mechanisms were developed, as the answer choice mentions. Furthermore, our expectation from the correct answer choice is on the lines that it indicates that “development imperatives such as food security and self-sufficiency took center stage” in the times in which the current incentive mechanisms were developed, as opposed to today’s “more holistic and integrated” approach. Incorrect.

D is the best choice.

3. Each of the following represents a transition necessary for the food system's transformation mentioned in the passage EXCEPT

a. People’s preference for a more nutritious diet
b. Farmers' commitment to socially responsible practices
c. Food companies redesigning business-models to optimize operations
d. Governments revising agricultural policy to incorporate environmental responsibility
 e. Food companies developing practices to reduce marketing expenses

Question Type: Fact

Explanation:

The first paragraph mentions that several transitions are required to enable a comprehensive transformation of food systems, and these include transitions “to healthier food”, “to sustainable agricultural practices that protect and restore nature, and “to greater efficiency in the production, distribution, and consumption of food”. Each answer choice needs to be carefully evaluated in light of the information presented in this context.

A. The first paragraph mentions that a transition “to healthier food” is one of the several transitions required to enable a comprehensive transformation of food systems;   People’s preference for     a   more nutritious diet is an example of a transition “to healthier food”  . Because this answer choice represents a transition mentioned in the passage, this answer choice is incorrect.

B. The first paragraph mentions that a transition “to sustainable agricultural practices that protect and restore nature” is one of the several transitions required to enable a comprehensive transformation of food systems;   farmers' commitment to socially responsible practices is an example of a transition “to sustainable agricultural practices that protect and restore nature”  . Because this answer choice represents a transition mentioned in the passage, this answer choice is incorrect.

C. The first paragraph mentions that a transition “to greater efficiency in the production, distribution, and consumption of food” is one of the several transitions required to enable a comprehensive transformation of food systems;   food companies redesigning business-models to optimize operations is an example of a transition “to greater efficiency in the production, distribution, and consumption of food”  . Because this answer choice represents a transition mentioned in the passage, this answer choice is incorrect.

D. The first paragraph mentions that a transition “to sustainable agricultural practices that protect and restore nature” is one of the several transitions required to enable a comprehensive transformation of food systems;   governments revising agricultural policy to incorporate environmental responsibility is an example of a transition “to sustainable agricultural practices that protect and restore nature”  . Because this answer choice represents a transition mentioned in the passage, this answer choice is incorrect.

E.  Correct . The first paragraph mentions that several transitions are required to enable a comprehensive transformation of food systems, and these include transitions “to healthier food”, “to sustainable agricultural practices that protect and restore nature”, and “to greater efficiency in the production, distribution, and consumption of food”;   food companies developing practices to reduce marketing expenses does not align with any of the above efforts  . Because this answer choice doesn’t represent a transition mentioned in the passage, this answer choice is correct.

E is the best choice.  
 
 = = = = = = = = = =

Todays food systems do not meet the food and nutrition security needs

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Todays food systems do not meet the food and nutrition security needs

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