Innovation and policy responses to the four food security pillars : lessons from Finland for Mongolia

Abstract

The aim of this study is to compare the food systems of Finland and Mongolia and to determine how innovation and policy coherence affect the four pillars of food security: availability, access, utilization, and stability. The study uses a combination of document analysis, policy analysis, and case study methods, drawing on reports from international organizations, official statistics, and previous research findings. The results of the analysis show that the Finnish food system has been able to ensure the resilience of the food system with its close linkages between research, policy and production, a relatively developed innovation system, and high institutional capacity and knowledge. However, in Mongolia, climate extremes and their associated risks, seasonal fluctuation, weak logistics development, lack of transparency due to digitalization, lack of infrastructure planning, and lack of institutional coordination have negatively affected food security pillars. The study concludes that strengthening the four pillars of food security requires a holistic systems approach that encompasses innovation systems, policy and governance coherence, and institutional reforms, rather than planning individual interventions. The Finnish experience shows that there is a significant opportunity to introduce policy learning and institutional innovation to improve the resilience of the food system in Mongolia.