Food System Resilience and Implications for Health Equity: Integrative Policy Design for Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

 In recent years, the intersection of food system resilience and health equity has emerged as a crucial area of inquiry within global public health and sustainable development discourses. The principle of health equity—defined as socially produced, avoidable, and unjust differences in health outcomes—underscores the need to address broader structural, social, and environmental determinants of health. This study employs a qualitative literature review method to explore theoretical and empirical linkages between resilient food systems, health equity, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Findings reveal that food systems influence more than food availability and access; they also shape labor conditions, gender equity, mental health, and community resilience to crises. Additionally, the concept of food sovereignty emerges as a valuable complement to mainstream food security frameworks, particularly for Indigenous and marginalized populations. The analysis concludes that achieving just and resilient food systems requires integrative, cross-sectoral policy design that embraces participatory governance, equity-centered strategies, and systemic thinking. This review offers a conceptual foundation for designing transformative interventions that align public health objectives with food system resilience and global sustainability goals.