27 February, 2026 – Today the True Cost Accounting (TCA) Accelerator launched the TCA Action Agenda, a first-of-its-kind strategic roadmap to revitalize our food systems.
This new Action Agenda reflects the collective insights of hundreds of food system stakeholders from civil society, business, government, academia, and philanthropy, informed by dozens of initiatives, virtual workshops, and a global TCA Summit hosted by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in 2025.
It builds on a strong foundation of shared ambition to mainstream TCA by 2030, addressing longstanding gaps in fully accounting for the food system’s environmental and social costs and benefits. These gaps have led to farming, business, and policy decisions with trillions of dollars annually in damages to people and nature, and underinvestment in solutions that can help solve some of our most difficult global challenges.
The Action Agenda sets out the most strategic actions needed to advance healthy, equitable, and sustainable food systems through a coordinated plan to mainstream TCA across five priority areas:
- Communications and advocacy: Clarifying the purpose and relevance of TCA for diverse audiences.
- Business and investment: Making the case for TCA in the private and financial sectors.
- Policy and regulation: Integrating TCA into national and international laws and regulatory frameworks.
- Coalition building: Expanding engagement with producers, including farmers and fishers, and aligning with health and climate initiatives.
- Guidance and research: Providing accessible tools and research to increase TCA usability across different regions.
Pavan Sukhdev, CEO, GIST Impact, said: “For too long, food system decisions have relied on narrow measures like “per hectare productivity of a mono-crop”, overlooking both the true costs and the full value of how food is produced. This Action Agenda brings together initiatives from across sectors and regions that are already proving that a different approach is possible and profitable. By making the full costs and benefits visible, food and farming practices can deliver healthier people, resilient livelihoods, and a more sustainable planet.”
As part of its Action Agenda, the TCA Accelerator will, over the next four years, work with partners globally, across sectors, to change how the costs and benefits of the food system are measured and managed, unlocking value for both people and nature.
“Collaboration is a core TCA principle, so it should come as no surprise that it is also critical to the success of this highly ambitious Action Agenda. The TCA Accelerator will act as its steward, but we can’t do it alone. By working together, TCA can become a cornerstone of food system decision-making. We invite stakeholders around the globe who seek a just, sustainable, and healthy future to join us in this shared endeavor,” Jenn Yates, Director, TCA Accelerator, added.