The current linear food system is exacerbating the hunger and malnutrition crisis in the Philippines. The country has a fragmented food system, one where poor planning and inadequate coordination have led to considerable post-harvest loss. Expensive and low-quality food is what would reach consumers’ tables, and yet there is a link between high food prices and undernutrition. Hunger is also another wicked problem that demands systems change because for every peso spent on food via a linear system, Filipinos pay two pesos in health, environment, and economic costs. If Filipinos are to get out of this vicious cycle, there is a need to transition to a circular food system.
This research attempts to determine where and how to begin by asking: What potential entry points can nutrition security stakeholders pursue to jumpstart the transition to a circular food system? Our theory of change centers on mapping the current linear food system and exploring market-driven entry points for sustainable, long-term solutions. Through collective action, problem-owners and problem-solvers can (1) co-generate business models and prototypes, (2) nest these innovations within enabling national and local policies for nutrition security, and (3) identify funding sources from within government and/or private investors. Working together, these levers would unleash sustainable innovation that builds the foundations of a futureproof circular food system for Metro Manila.