Environmental Sustainability and the Food System

AbstractObjectiveTo determine key points of intervention in urban food systems to improve the climate resilience, equity and healthfulness of the whole system.DesignThe paper brings together evidence from a 3-year, Australia-based mixed-methods research project focused on climate change adaptation, cities, food systems and health. In an integrated analysis of the three research domains – encompassing the production, distribution and consumption sectors of the food chain – the paper examines the efficacy of various food subsystems (industrial, alternative commercial and civic) in achieving climate resilience and good nutrition.SettingGreater Western Sydney, Australia.SubjectsPrimary producers, retailers and consumers in Western Sydney.ResultsThis overarching analysis of the tripartite study found that: (i) industrial food production systems can be more environmentally sustainable than alternative systems, indicating the importance of multiple food subsystems for food security; (ii) a variety of food distributors stocking healthy and sustainable items is required to ensure that these items are accessible, affordable and available to all; and (iii) it is not enough that healthy and sustainable foods are produced or sold, consumers must also want to consume them. In summary, a resilient urban food system requires that healthy and sustainable food items are produced, that consumers can attain them and that they actually wish to purchase them.ConclusionsThis capstone paper found that the interconnected nature of the different sectors in the food system means that to improve environmental sustainability, equity and population health outcomes, action should focus on the system as a whole and not just on any one sector.

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Grappling With Complex Food Systems to Reduce Obesity: A US Public Health Challenge

Public Health Reports ◽

10.1177/0033354918802793 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 133 (1_suppl) ◽

pp. 44S-53S ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Anne Barnhill ◽

Anne Palmer ◽

Christine M. Weston ◽

Kelly D. Brownell ◽

Kate Clancy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Food Systems ◽

Food System ◽

The United States ◽

Community Members ◽

Targeted Interventions ◽

Health Community ◽

Policies And Programs ◽

State Programs

Despite 2 decades of effort by the public health community to combat obesity, obesity rates in the United States continue to rise. This lack of progress raises fundamental questions about the adequacy of our current approaches. Although the causes of population-wide obesity are multifactorial, attention to food systems as potential drivers of obesity has been prominent. However, the relationships between broader food systems and obesity are not always well understood. Our efforts to address obesity can be advanced and improved by the use of systems approaches that consider outcomes of the interconnected global food system, including undernutrition, climate change, the environmental sustainability of agriculture, and other social and economic concerns. By implementing innovative local and state programs, taking new approaches to overcome political obstacles to effect policy, and reconceptualizing research needs, we can improve obesity prevention efforts that target the food systems, maximize positive outcomes, and minimize adverse consequences. We recommend strengthening innovative local policies and programs, particularly those that involve community members in identifying problems and potential solutions and that embrace a broad set of goals beyond making eating patterns healthier. We also recommend undertaking interdisciplinary research projects that go beyond testing targeted interventions in specific populations and aim to build an understanding of the broader social, political, and economic context.

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Food Democracy for All? Developing a Food Hub in the Context of Socio-Economic Deprivation

Politics and Governance ◽

10.17645/pag.v7i4.2057 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 142-153 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Sebastian Prost

Keyword(s):

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Food System ◽

System Transformation ◽

Economic Deprivation ◽

Participatory Action ◽

Community Needs ◽

Local Responses ◽

Food Hub ◽

The Uk ◽

Food Democracy

This article proposes a localised and differentiated understanding of food democracy, or rather a plurality of localised food democracies. Based on the experiences of developing a local food hub in an area of socio-economic deprivation in the UK using a participatory action research (PAR) approach, it presents local responses to three key challenges derived from the literature. It argues that for civic food networks (CFNs) to contribute to a transition towards a food democracy, they need to address challenges of: 1) balancing ethical aspirations for environmental sustainability, social justice, as well as community and individual health; 2) developing the skills required for participation in CFNs; and 3) achieving wider impact on food system transformation beyond niche solutions. The responses, or tactics, presented in this article include flexible ethical standards responding to community needs, accessible participation focusing on relationships rather than skills, and a focus on local impact while striving to collaborate and network with other organisations. It thus frames food democracy as a plurality of approaches to build and replicate CFNs. The article positions PAR with its democratic and localised approach to address real-world problems as uniquely suited to navigate the challenges of CFNs. It also discusses the role of researchers in initiating, facilitating, and shaping such processes of food system democratisation as engaged actors.

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Ultra-processed foods in childhood: a system of violation of rights and food and nutrition insecurity

Research Society and Development ◽

10.33448/rsd-v10i14.21596 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (14) ◽

pp. e64101421596

Author(s):

Beatriz Gouveia Moura ◽

Jamille Caroso de Andrade ◽

Adriana Correia dos Santos ◽

Rodrigo do Nascimento Lopes ◽

Maria Emília Lisboa Pacheco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Food System ◽

Secondary Data ◽

Point Of View ◽

Capital City ◽

Processed Foods ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

School Students ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Food And Nutrition

Discussions on the health consequences of the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are wide-ranging, but little has been addressed under systemic aspects, human rights, sovereignty and food and nutrition security, and socio-environmental sustainability. For this reason, the aim of this article was to analyze the systemic implications of children's access to UPFs. Secondary data from a cross-sectional survey conducted with pre-school students of two private schools in a capital city in the Northeastern region of Brazil were analyzed through the analysis of lunch boxes for three consecutive days. The most frequent UPFs had information about the manufacturing location, ingredients, and brand collected from their labels and subsequently studied. We noticed that most of the products were manufactured in other states, being transported for long distances, had little ingredient diversity, and belonged to sub-brands that conglomerate into “big players”. In this sense, we conclude that children are having their right to food violated and that access to UPFs by this public supports a hegemonic and unsustainable food system from a socio-environmental point of view that contributes to food and nutrition insecurity.

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Collaboration and diverse stakeholder participation in food system planning: a case study from Central New York

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems ◽

10.1017/s1742170518000431 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 35 (2) ◽

pp. 115-119

Author(s):

Evan Weissman ◽

Matthew Potteiger

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Food System ◽

System Development ◽

Stakeholder Participation ◽

System Planning ◽

Central New York ◽

Food System Planning ◽

And Function ◽

Onondaga County

AbstractThe Onondaga County Agriculture Council was created in 2012 to promote and support the county's farms, improve the connections between the county's urban core of Syracuse and the surrounding agricultural areas, and to develop policy to support agricultural production and food system development. In short, the purpose of the Council is to strengthen the Onondaga County food system. This goal, however, is ambiguous and Council members recognized a limited understanding of the current structure and function of the Central New York (CNY) food system. As such, the Council provided support for FoodPlanCNY, a project designed to identify food system assets and opportunities to strengthen the economic opportunities, public health outcomes and environmental sustainability of the CNY food system. This paper reports preliminary findings from this initial effort to engage participatory food system planning in CNY.

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Life Cycle Assessment and Environmental Sustainability in the Food System

Agriculture and Agricultural Science Procedia ◽

10.1016/j.aaspro.2016.02.026 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 317-323 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Immacolata Viola ◽

Augusto Marinelli

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle Assessment ◽

Life Cycle ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Food System

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Analysis of banana and cocoa export commodities in food system transformation, with special reference to certification schemes as drivers of change

Food Security ◽

10.1007/s12571-021-01219-y ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Carlos F. B. V. Alho ◽

Amanda F. da Silva ◽

Chantal M. J. Hendriks ◽

Jetse J. Stoorvogel ◽

Peter J. M. Oosterveer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Costa Rica ◽

Cote D'ivoire ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Côte D’Ivoire ◽

Food System ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

System Transformation ◽

Cote D’Ivoire ◽

Health And Nutrition ◽

Côte D'ivoire

AbstractFood systems analysis is increasingly being applied to understand relations between production, distribution, and consumption of food products, the drivers that influence the system, and the outcomes that show how well the food system performs on health and nutrition, on environmental sustainability, and on income and inclusiveness. Little attention has gone to the position of global export commodities, where production and consumption are far apart. Banana in Costa Rica and cocoa in Cote d’Ivoire were the subject of this study to find out what major drivers determine the functioning of these systems. Next to identifying drivers such as population growth and increased plant disease pressure, it was found that the typical far-away setting and different living conditions between producer and consumer countries required a special eye on governance as a tripartite arena (government, private sector, civil society) with their power relations, and on certification schemes as a driver that follows from corporate social responsibility. The certification schemes addressed cover all food system outcomes, although health and nutrition in a less conspicuous way. The descriptions of the functioning of the schemes were also linked to living wages and incomes for banana plantation workers in Costa Rica and cocoa smallholder farmers in Côte d’Ivoire. Although very meaningful, certification schemes so far do not prove to be a silver bullet, but they do have the potential, in combination with other measures, to help positive food system transformations.

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What Do We Need to Know to Enhance the Environmental Sustainability of Agricultural Production? A Prioritisation of Knowledge Needs for the UK Food System

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su5073095 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 5 (7) ◽

pp. 3095-3115 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Lynn Dicks ◽

Richard Bardgett ◽

Jenny Bell ◽

Tim Benton ◽

Angela Booth ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Agricultural Production ◽

Food System ◽

The Uk

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Challenges and innovations in achieving zero hunger and environmental sustainability through the lens of sub-Saharan Africa

Outlook on Agriculture ◽

10.1177/0030727020975778 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 003072702097577

Author(s):

Moses Okello ◽

Jimmy Lamo ◽

Mildred Ochwo-Ssemakula ◽

Francis Onyilo

Keyword(s):

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Agricultural Production ◽

Food System ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Small Scale ◽

Weather Extremes ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Daunting Task ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Zero Hunger

Achieving zero hunger by 2030 often raises the issue of environmental protection or sustainable social development among policy makers due to the environmental footprint of intensifying agricultural production across the continent. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has one of the fastgrowing populations with more than half of the global growth between now and 2050. The challenge now lies in feeding the ever-growing population that is exerting pressure on the limited available resources. Doubling the agricultural productivity of small-scale farmers by 2030 (SDG 2.3) remains a daunting task for researcher and policy makers to address on the continent that now relies much on imports of food. Exploitation of the untapped massive land resources for agricultural production poses threats to sustainability. However, the challenges of global warming cannot be left out of this discussion since it has direct impact on future productivity on the continent. Climate change that has been projected to mostly affect the poorer countries also present trials to the food system through increased diseases and weather extremes of floods and droughts. Questions are yet to be answered on which tradeoffs and synergies if any need to be made to achieve zero hunger in Africa by 2030. This synopsis critically breaks down the conflicts, tradeoffs and synergies of how a continent with such massive agricultural production potential can navigate sustainably to achieve zero hunger, self-sufficiency and exports prospects while conserving the environment and natural resources. Evident deployment of new and improved technologies especially advanced biotechnology tools will be critical in achieving zero hunger by 2030. The adaptation needs of the continent are broad including institutional, social, physical and infrastructural needs, ecosystem services and environmental needs, and financial and capacity uncertain impacts.

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Systematic Review of Dietary Patterns and Sustainability in the United States

Advances in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/advances/nmaa026 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 1016-1031 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Sarah L Reinhardt ◽

Rebecca Boehm ◽

Nicole Tichenor Blackstone ◽

Naglaa H El-Abbadi ◽

Joy S McNally Brandow ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Dietary Patterns ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Energy Use ◽

Food System ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

The United States ◽

Dietary Guidelines ◽

Rapid Expansion ◽

Inclusion Criteria

ABSTRACT Improving awareness and accessibility of healthy diets are key challenges for health professionals and policymakers alike. While the US government has been assessing and encouraging nutritious diets via the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) since 1980, the long-term sustainability, and thus availability, of those diets has received less attention. The 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) examined the evidence on sustainable diets for the first time, but this topic was not included within the scope of work for the 2020 DGAC. The objective of this study was to systematically review the evidence on US dietary patterns and sustainability outcomes published from 2015 to 2019 replicating the 2015 DGAC methodology. The 22 studies meeting inclusion criteria reveal a rapid expansion of research on US dietary patterns and sustainability, including 8 studies comparing the sustainability of DGA-compliant dietary patterns with current US diets. Our results challenge prior findings that diets adhering to national dietary guidelines are more sustainable than current average diets and indicate that the Healthy US-style dietary pattern recommended by the DGA may lead to similar or increased greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and water use compared with the current US diet. However, consistent with previous research, studies meeting inclusion criteria generally support the conclusion that, among healthy dietary patterns, those higher in plant-based foods and lower in animal-based foods would be beneficial for environmental sustainability. Additional research is needed to further evaluate ways to improve food system sustainability through both dietary shifts and agricultural practices in the United States.

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