Role of food processing in food and nutrition security

•Food processing has a critical role in achieving food and nutrition security.•Reducing food losses is an important strategy to maximize efficiency of resource use.•A balanced approach to both energy and nutrient content of foods is required.•Consumer concern about food processing must be addressed for acceptance of benefits.•A holistic approach to food supply chain efficiency and sustainable diets is needed.

BackgroundFood and nutrition security, a major global challenge, relies on the adequate supply of safe, affordable and nutritious fresh and processed foods to all people. The challenge of supplying healthy diets to 9 billion people in 2050 will in part be met through increase in food production. However, reducing food losses throughout the supply chain from production to consumption and sustainable enhancements in preservation, nutrient content, safety and shelf life of foods, enabled by food processing will also be essential.Scope and approachThis review describes developments in primary food production systems and the role of food processing on population health and food and nutrition security. It emphasises the need to monitor the attitudes and values of consumers in order to better understand factors that may lead to negative perceptions about food processing.Key findings and conclusionsFor a resource constrained world, it is essential to have a balanced approach to both energy and nutrient content of foods. Environmental sustainability is critical and both the agrifood production and the food processing sectors will be challenged to use less resources to produce greater quantities of existing foods and develop innovative new foods that are nutritionally appropriate for the promotion of health and well-being, have long shelf lives and are conveniently transportable. Healthy diets which meet consumer expectations produced from resilient and sustainable agrifood systems need to be delivered in a changing world with diminishing natural resources. An integrated multi-sectoral approach across the whole food supply chain is required to address global food and nutrition insecurity.