Integrated Climate, Food Systems, Nutrition and Health Research in LMICs: barriers, enablers and opportunities

Climate change and environmental degradation are shaping food systems, nutrition and health outcomes, especially in LMICs, while global food systems and diets are contributing to worsening planetary health. Despite growing recognition of these interconnections, research that empirically links these themes remains underdeveloped along many pathways and methodologically fragmented. We will produce an evidence-based needs assessment of the global research ecosystem at the climate–food systems–nutrition–health intersection, with a deliberate focus on LMIC researchers and institutions and their collaborators. We will identify and critically analyse the conceptual, data, capacity and structural barriers that currently limit generation of high-quality interdisciplinary research, alongside opportunities to catalyse research development. Using a mixed qualitative approach, we will (i) map data landscapes, availability and analytic capacities through desk review, and (ii) conduct expert consultation through semi-structured interviews with funders, reviewers and researchers, including applicants to climate–food–health research calls. The project will generate actionable recommendations to inform funders, policymakers and research leaders on how to align investments, strengthen enabling environments and promote interdisciplinary research. Outputs will include a peer-reviewed publication, validation exercise and stakeholder convenings to support a step-change in the generation of policy-relevant evidence linking climate change, food systems, nutrition and health.