Proceedings of a Workshop on Characterizing and Defining the Social and Economic Domains of Sustainable Diets

Global challenges associated with a growing demand for food in the face of finite natural resources and climate change have prompted concerns about the sustainability of our current food systems. As formulated by the Food and Agriculture Organization, the four principal domains of sustainable diets are health, economics, society, and the environment. While emphasizing the environmental cost and health impacts of current diets, the research literature has virtually ignored the vital economic and social aspects of sustainability. Without these components, critical inputs for decision-making about global challenges related to climate change and a growing demand for food are missing. National Dairy Council convened experts in sociology, economics, human nutrition, food systems science, food security, environmental health, and sustainable agriculture for a one-day workshop to define the social and economic domains of sustainability in service of better characterizing food-based dietary guidance that is both healthy and sustainable. The consensus recommendations were to (1) select social and economic indicators to complement the existing environmental and health ones, (2) better define appropriate concepts, terms, and measures to foster discussion across scientific disciplines, (3) reframe the focus on sustainable diets towards the goal of “achieving healthy dietary patterns from sustainable food systems”, and (4) complement the four domains, and incorporate the notions of geography, time, and cross-cutting considerations into sustainability frameworks. This publication summarizes the presentations, discussions, and findings from the 2019 workshop, and aims to catalyze further action to advance sustainability research and practice in the context of food-based dietary guidance and the Sustainable Development Goals.

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Review of Methodologies for Assessing Sustainable Diets and Potential for Development of Harmonised Indicators

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16071184 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (7) ◽

pp. 1184 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Paul Eme ◽

Jeroen Douwes ◽

Nicholas Kim ◽

Sunia Foliaki ◽

Barbara Burlingame

Keyword(s):

Food Systems ◽

Health Indicators ◽

Evidence Base ◽

Socioeconomic Indicators ◽

Nutrition And Health ◽

Dietary Practices ◽

Sustainable Food Systems ◽

Sustainable Food ◽

Sustainable Diets ◽

The Social

The underlying values and priorities that drive policy responses depend largely on the constructs that researchers and decision makers select to measure and the metrics used. Despite much recent attention being given to sustainable diets and food systems and to the importance of clearly measuring sustainability to meet targets, to achieve goals, and to appraise dietary and environmental policies, it is not commonly agreed how the different indicators of sustainable diets are assessed. The evidence base for assessment of these indicators are frequently weak, fragmented, and arbitrary. The aim of this paper was to compare a range of published methods and indicators for assessing sustainable diets and food systems in order to harmonise them. Keyword and reference searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, CAB Abstracts, and Web of Knowledge. Fifty-two studies (21 proposed methods and 31 used methods) that combined environment, nutrition and health, and socioeconomic aspects of sustainable diets were reviewed. The majority (over 90%) of the studies focused on high-income countries. Twenty-eight studies assessed the environmental effects of different dietary practices, eight of the studies examined the nutrition and health indicators used for assessing sustainable food systems, and seven studies assessed the social and economic costs of diets. A classification of the elements was developed, and common elements are proposed for standardizing. These elements were categorized into nutrition and health indicators, environment indicators, and socioeconomic indicators. Standardized or harmonized indicators can be used for consistency and applicability purposes and to support, implement, and monitor relevant policies.

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Toward Sociocultural Indicators of Sustainable Healthy Diets

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13137226 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (13) ◽

pp. 7226

Author(s):

Jill Nicholls ◽

Adam Drewnowski

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Food Systems ◽

Research Priorities ◽

Social Dimension ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Four Dimensions ◽

Sustainable Diets ◽

The Social ◽

Healthy Diets ◽

Development Goals

Balancing the social, economic and environmental priorities for public health is at the core of the United Nations (UN) approaches to sustainable development, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The four dimensions of sustainable diets are often presented as health, society, economics, and the environment. Although sustainable diet research has focused on health and the environment, the social and economic dimensions of sustainable diets and food systems should not be forgotten. Some research priorities and sociocultural indicators for sustainable healthy diets and food systems are outlined in this report. The present goal is to improve integration of the social dimension into research on food and nutrition security.

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Special Issue “Levering Sustainable Food Systems to Address Climate Change (Pandemics and Other Shocks and Hazards): Possible Transformations”

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13158206 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (15) ◽

pp. 8206

Author(s):

Andrew Spring ◽

Erin Nelson ◽

Irena Knezevic ◽

Patricia Ballamingie ◽

Alison Blay-Palmer

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Food Systems ◽

Special Issue ◽

Sustainable Food Systems ◽

Sustainable Food ◽

Address Climate Change ◽

The World

Since we first conceived of this Special Issue, “Levering Sustainable Food Systems to Address Climate Change—Possible Transformations”, COVID-19 has turned the world upside down [...]

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Options for reforming agricultural subsidies from health, climate, and economic perspectives

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-021-27645-2 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Author(s):

M. Springmann ◽

F. Freund

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Food Systems ◽

Food System ◽

Global Scale ◽

Integrated Modelling ◽

Agricultural Subsidies ◽

Sustainable Food ◽

Equal Distribution ◽

Modelling Framework ◽

Economic Perspectives

AbstractAgricultural subsidies are an important factor for influencing food production and therefore part of a food system that is seen as neither healthy nor sustainable. Here we analyse options for reforming agricultural subsidies in line with health and climate-change objectives on one side, and economic objectives on the other. Using an integrated modelling framework including economic, environmental, and health assessments, we find that on a global scale several reform options could lead to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and improvements in population health without reductions in economic welfare. Those include a repurposing of up to half of agricultural subsidies to support the production of foods with beneficial health and environmental characteristics, including fruits, vegetables, and other horticultural products, and combining such repurposing with a more equal distribution of subsidy payments globally. The findings suggest that reforming agricultural subsidy schemes based on health and climate-change objectives can be economically feasible and contribute to transitions towards healthy and sustainable food systems.

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Multi-Stakeholder and Multilevel Food Governance

Developing Sustainable Food Systems, Policies, and Securities - Practice, Progress, and Proficiency in Sustainability ◽

10.4018/978-1-7998-2599-9.ch004 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 60-72

Author(s):

Sérgio Pedro

Keyword(s):

Food Systems ◽

Food System ◽

Methodological Approach ◽

Central Element ◽

Sustainable Food Systems ◽

Sustainable Food ◽

Food Governance ◽

Food And Agriculture ◽

Multi Stakeholder ◽

Global And Local

The contemporary food system, in its global and local dimensions, is a central element of the debate on the sustainability of the planet, a debate that increasingly involves more stakeholders and areas of knowledge in the search for answers to the multiple questions related to the attainment of more sustainable patterns for food and agriculture. The present chapter analyses the participative multi-stakeholder and multilevel model of food governance of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), in which stakeholders from different societal and expertise sectors participate in equal manners in the process of co-construction of institutional, technical, and financing measures for the functioning of a given food system. The present chapter has the main goal of sharing and critically analysing the CPLP´s institutional context for the promotion of sustainable food systems as an example of an integrated methodological approach to support the creation of coordinated public policies and institutional conditions to implement a transition to more sustainable food systems and diets.

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Contributions of Urban Agro Ecological Agriculture to Ecosystem Services

International Journal of Urban Planning and Smart Cities ◽

10.4018/ijupsc.2021010101 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 1-16

Author(s):

José G. Vargas-Hernández ◽

Olga E. Domené-Painenao

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Ecosystem Services ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Agricultural Production ◽

Food Systems ◽

Social Equity ◽

Empirical Literature ◽

Environmental Services ◽

Negative Effects ◽

The Social

This paper has the aim to analyze the implications of the transition of ecosystem services based on urban agro ecology. It advances on the debate over the negative effects of the traditional and industrial oriented agricultural production on the ecosystem services, food systems, climate change, etc. and analyses the principles, methods, and some practices that support the transition to urban agro ecology. The method employed is the analytical of the theoretical and empirical literature review. It concludes that a transition from traditional and industrial-oriented agriculture towards more urban agro ecology is inevitable to improve the ecological and environmental services, the economic efficiency, the social equity and justice, and the environmental sustainability of cities.

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How Can Dietitians Leverage Change for Sustainable Food Systems in Canada?

Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research ◽

10.3148/cjdpr-2019-005 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 80 (4) ◽

pp. 164-171 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Liesel Carlsson ◽

Edith Callaghan ◽

Göran Broman

Keyword(s):

Food Systems ◽

Food System ◽

Ecological Systems ◽

Unintended Consequences ◽

Knowledge Development ◽

Organizational Policy ◽

Sustainable Food Systems ◽

Sustainable Food ◽

Leverage Points ◽

The Social

Purpose: In this paper, we begin to set out language defining sustainable food systems (SFS) in Canada, through the voices of dietitians, and identify leverage points where dietitians can affect change. Methods: Dietitians of Canada members were invited to a Delphi Inquiry process; questions explored a vision of SFS in Canada, barriers to that vision, and actions. Results were independently analysed by 2 members of the research team who used the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development to structure the data. Results: Fifty-eight members participated. The resultant vision describes a future food system in 15 thematic areas of the social and ecological systems. Barriers are described according to how they undermine sustainability. High-leverage actions areas included: (i) facilitating knowledge development within the profession and public, (ii) influencing organizational policy to support SFS, and (iii) and influencing public policy. Approaches to such action included: (i) facilitating cross-sectoral collaboration and (ii) applying reflexive approaches. Conclusions: This research suggests a multidimensional understanding of food systems sustainability among dietitians. The vision provides some language to describe what dietitians mean by SFS and can be used as a compass point to orient action. Action areas and approaches have the potential to drive systemic change while avoiding unintended consequences.

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Our people, our food, our planet

Pacific Health ◽

10.24135/pacifichealth.v3i0.44 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

Author(s):

Cath Conn ◽

Radilaite Cammock ◽

Katrina Ford ◽

Gloria Faesen Kloet ◽

Shoba Nayar

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Food Systems ◽

Food System ◽

Systems Approach ◽

Dietary Practices ◽

Sustainable Food Systems ◽

Sustainable Food ◽

Health Crisis ◽

The Pacific ◽

Integrated Policy

Video link: Our people, our food, our planet: Sustainable food systems policy in the Pacific Pacific Island Countries and Territories are facing a health crisis with non communicable diseases (NCDs) currently accounting for more than 80% of deaths. In the 21st century, advances in health intervention and policy render this figure unacceptable. Multiple risk factors contribute to the NCD crisis; a leading driver being obesity due to changing dietary practices arising from the global food system. A system which is dominated by processed foods high in starch and sugars. This situation is compounded by changes in the natural and built environments relating to climate change. Tackling this issue is beyond the sole domain of public health and is, therefore, more suited to a planetary health approach. This paper applies a sustainable food systems approach to analysing NCD policy developments in the Pacific region. In particular, three domains of policy which impact diets in the Pacific are examined: food production, climate change and sustainability, and trade. It is argued that countering the NCD crisis demands a global multisectoral approach, with governments leading the way, to develop integrated policy and interventions that will secure the future wellbeing and protection of our people, our food, our planet.

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TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS: A HOLISTIC, INTERDISCIPLINARY AND SYSTEMIC APPROACH

AGROFOR ◽

10.7251/agreng1601103m ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Silvana Moscatelli ◽

Hamid El Bilali ◽

Mauro Gamboni ◽

Roberto Capone

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Food Systems ◽

Biodiversity Loss ◽

Resource Scarcity ◽

Systemic Approach ◽

Community Supported Agriculture ◽

Sustainable Food Systems ◽

Sustainable Food ◽

Multiple Challenges ◽

Seafood Processing

One of the biggest challenges facing humanity is achieving sustainable foodsecurity in the face of population growth, resource scarcity, ecosystem degradationand climate change. Transitioning towards sustainable food systems (SFS) is amust for achieving sustainable development. This review paper highlights the needto adopt a holistic, multidimensional, interdisciplinary and systemic approach forbetter understanding food systems, which is a prerequisite for fostering transitiontowards sustainability. A better understanding of food systems meanscomprehending issues at play from ‘farm to fork’ i.e. production (crop, animal,seafood), processing, trade and distribution, and consumption. For gaining a fullawareness also cross-cutting issues such as gender, innovation and technologyshould be considered. Such a deep knowledge and consequent corrective actionsare crucial to address the multiple challenges and dysfunctions of the current globalfood system such as food insecurity, obesity, food waste, climate change,biodiversity loss, land degradation, water depletion, deforestation, marketconcentration and food heritage erosion. It is fundamental to foster transitiontowards sustainable and resilient food systems to achieve sustainable food andnutrition security for present and future generations. All dimensions (environment,economy, society and culture, nutrition and health) of food sustainability should betackled while considering policy and governance. Different food consumption andproduction models can help speeding up journey towards sustainability. Theseinclude, inter alia, organic agriculture and different alternative food systemsallowing to link consumption and production such as urban agriculture,community-supported agriculture and short food chains. While the challenge istitanic, there is a menu of options that can be jointly used to foster shift towardsSFS such as sustainable and eco-functional intensification, sustainable diets, foodloss and waste reduction. Nevertheless, a holistic and systemic approach isnecessary to develop a systems thinking for generating interdisciplinary knowledgeneeded to support transition towards sustainable food systems.

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TOWARDS AN INTEGRATED ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK TO MAP SUSTAINABILITY TRANSITIONS IN FOOD SYSTEMS

AGROFOR ◽

10.7251/agreng1702015t ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Hamid EL BILALI ◽

Lorenz PROBST

Keyword(s):

Food Systems ◽

Innovation System ◽

Analytical Framework ◽

Social Practices ◽

Sustainability Transitions ◽

Transition Management ◽

Change Initiatives ◽

Sustainable Food Systems ◽

Sustainable Food ◽

The Social

Transitions to sustainable food systems are considered necessary to addresssustainability challenges in industrial food systems – but also to achieve food andnutrition security especially in countries of the South. To facilitate such transitions,we need a thorough analytical understanding of change processes in food systems.Different transition frameworks have been suggested in the literature, with theMulti-Level Perspective (MLP) on socio-technical transitions being the mostprominent. While MLP has proven to be a useful heuristic, earlier studies haveidentified weak points (e.g. regarding agency, power, landscape factors andinstitutional innovations) calling for the integration of complementary concepts.This paper proposes a framework for the analysis of sustainability transitions infood systems that integrates elements of the Social Practices Approach, TransitionManagement, Strategic Niche Management and Innovation Systems. The startingpoint of the suggested analytical process is to map emerging sustainable foodsystems along the MLP levels of niche, regime and landscape. To better understandprocesses of creating and developing initiatives in food systems, our mapping relieson Innovation System approaches (e.g. identifying actors and their networks),Transition Management (e.g. niche stabilization and expansion processes) andStrategic Niche Management (e.g. breakthroughs). As wider transitions require areconfiguration of relevant regimes, interactions across levels are of particularinterest. The Social Practices Approach helps to make niche-regime interactionsexplicit. Finally, by looking at the impacts and outcomes of change initiatives, wecan make statements about the type of transition pathway taken – and whether aninitiative has transformative potential or is an incremental adaptation. Further workis needed to refine and test the framework in different contexts.

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