D3.5 Systemic Understanding: Summary Report on 15 Case Study Results

This summary report provides a synthesis of the 15 case study analyses and results, following a three-phase methodological approach. In phase one, it provides an overview of the case studies' main features, taking the key structural elements from D3.1. Methodological guidelines and reporting template into account. The second phase provides a systemic understanding of agricultural trade from different sustainability perspectives. The aim is to illustrate how the elements that explain the current situation behave within the food system – either as drivers or outcomes – under the environmental sustainability and human rights perspectives we set out to address from the Grant Agreement. Finally, the third phase identifies and selects those SDG indicators from D2.1, set of indicators to assess the sustainability impacts of agricultural trade, which are best suited to focus on the transformation of agricultural trade. This selection of indicators is done with a focus on their ability to help identify the key leverage points for changes in agricultural trade policy that foster the positive and reduce the negative impacts of trade on sustainable development and human rights.

This summary and synthesis report is not only deemed useful for the following key processes and communication steps in subsequent MATS work packages (transition pathways development, policy recommendations development, society-stakeholder-policy dialogue, dissemination and communication), but also useful as a blueprint for future research projects with a similar synthesis agenda.