Smith NWMcDowell RWSmith CFoster MEason CStephens MMcNabb WC2025-07-162025-07-162025-07-03Smith NW, McDowell RW, Smith C, Foster M, Eason C, Stephens M, McNabb WC. (2025). Gaps in environmental and social evidence base are holding back strategic action on our national food system. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Latest Articles. (pp. 1-6).0303-6758https://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/73191While there is broad agreement on the challenges facing the Aotearoa New Zealand food system now and in the near future, there is less agreement on the action to be taken. Poor agreement is fuelled by gaps in both our scientific understanding of the food system and data to support our decision making, particularly in the environmental and social spaces. Filling these gaps and being transparent about scientific confidence in future predictions will strengthen the evidence base for action.(c) 2025 The Author/sCC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Food systemssustainabilityfood strategyagricultural policyfood policyJournal article10.1080/03036758.2025.25268381175-8899journal-article1-6