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Global food systems have complex, diverse and coupled multisectoral dynamics that present challenges for progressive interdisciplinary research. We propose a framework for inclusive, flexible and iterative integration across disciplines to support the entire research process.
Understanding the propagation or attenuation of environmental variability and shocks along food supply chains is key to food security. This scoping review identifies entry points for variability, the main factors for variability diffusion, research gaps in terms of food items and types of shock studied, and risk reduction responses at individual, company and governmental levels.
Chinese vegetable production accounts for 1.7% of the global harvest area of crops but uses 7.8% of the chemical fertilizer and produces 6.6% of the crop-sourced greenhouse gas emissions of the global agricultural sector. An innovative management programme offers opportunities for producing more vegetables with lower environmental impacts.
The European Union relies on imports of soybean for protein-rich animal feeds. Scenarios of animal-source food supply in the EU under constraints relating to soybean production and imports for animal feed are assessed for effect on land use and human diets in the EU.
COVID-19 has provided valuable insights into the role of logical-scientific communication during a crisis. Narrative communication may be better suited for other public and planetary health challenges, including those that pertain to food systems — and story-telling could be an effective agent for change.
Mariculture has attracted much attention as a potential new source of food. Yet, the trophic efficiency of marine ecosystems is already high, making further improvements hard to achieve. Increasing marine food production may be possible by fishing at lower trophic levels, but the risks of such a practice must be considered.
Limited data on household cooking practices are an obstacle to estimating the contribution of home cooking to climate change. Based on a survey with over 700 respondents, this study estimates GHG emissions associated with different cooking methods and appliances in the UK, as well as strategies to reduce them.
Understanding of the effects of elevated CO2 on crops has improved sufficiently that modelling future climatic effects on agriculture should eliminate ‘no CO2’ simulations. Further advancement in the estimation of the effects can be realized by studying a wider variety of crop species under a wider range of growing conditions, improving the representation of responses to climate extremes in crop models and simulating additional crop physiological processes related to nutritional quality.
Increasing pressure on the world’s water resources raises serious concerns about future food security. This global, spatially explicit assessment of water consumption reveals where and by how much sustainable blue water flows are infringed. The study covers 146 food items for 174 countries over 1996–2005.
Disentangling the impacts of anti-deforestation interventions from other conservation efforts remains a challenge. An econometric analysis of remotely sensed data reveals the efficacy of the Soy Moratorium in the Brazilian Arc of Deforestation and the extent to which its success relies on complementary policies.
Chromosome-scale, phased Vanilla planifolia genome sequencing shows variants that may impact the vanillin pathway and, therefore, bean quality. Resequencing related vanilla species could benefit vanilla productivity and reduce post-harvest losses.
Measures to protect marine habitats must consider the interlinkages between conservation policies and food systems. This study illustrates how a new protected area in Palau may shift fish supply and tourist consumption, highlighting policies to avoid negative environmental consequences.
Evaluating food systems in a holistic way is paramount to their transformation. Recent initiatives show how true cost accounting can help achieve that transformation at policy, product, organizational, farm, and investment levels.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact health and livelihoods in West Africa. Exposure of food system fragilities by the pandemic presents the opportunity for regional-specific reforms to deliver healthy diets for all and promote resilience to future shocks.
