Knowledge Tree
food systems
Also known as: global food systems, global food system, globalized food system, modern food systems
Facts (85)
Sources
Measurement of diets that are healthy, environmentally sustainable ... frontiersin.org 16 facts
referenceThe economic pillar of sustainability is defined as outcomes related to economic access by consumers to desired foods, including affordability and relative food prices, as well as the cost of policy actions and the viability of the supply chains and institutions that support all food system functions.
measurementIn a review of 42 papers regarding sustainability pillars in food systems, 13 papers (31.0%) examined health, environment, and economic outcomes; four papers (9.5%) examined environment, economic, and social outcomes; one paper (2.4%) examined health, environment, and social outcomes; and no papers examined health, economic, and social outcomes.
claimThe authors of the study link social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) frameworks to the food systems field by explicitly including stakeholders along the value chain beyond consumers.
measurementOnly six publications out of the 42 reviewed incorporate social sustainability outcomes, representing an under-explored dimension of food system concerns.
referenceSwinburn (2019) analyzed power dynamics in 21st-century food systems in the journal Nutrients.
referenceFreedman et al. published 'Food system dynamics structuring nutrition equity in racialized urban neighborhoods' in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2022.
referenceTribaldos and Kortetmäki published 'Just transition principles and criteria for food systems and beyond' in the journal Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions in 2022.
referenceMelesse et al. published 'Metrics to analyze and improve diets through food systems in low and middle income countries' in Food Security in 2020.
referenceBéné published 'Why the great food transformation may not happen – a deep-dive into our food systems’ political economy, controversies and politics of evidence' in World Development in 2022.
referenceBéné et al. (2020) conducted a multi-country correlation analysis on the global drivers of food system (un)sustainability, published in PLoS One.
claimIt is widely accepted that current food systems negatively impact ecological foundations, including land, water, and biodiversity.
referenceThoma et al. published 'Life cycle assessment of food systems and diets' in the book 'Food Systems Modelling', edited by Peters and Thilmany, published by Elsevier in Amsterdam in 2022.
claimFood systems simultaneously generate significant greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change, underpin dietary patterns associated with a global escalation of non-communicable diseases, leave millions undernourished, and allow for the exploitation of food system workers.
claimAuthors in most studies emphasize the importance of better defining optimal diets to guide policymakers in transforming food systems for improved human and planetary health.
referenceWillett et al. (2018) published a multi-indicator sustainability assessment of global food systems in Nature Communications.
referenceThornton et al. published 'The price tag for transforming food systems under climate change' as a policy brief for Clim-Eat in 2022.
Health and environmental impacts of diets worldwide globalnutritionreport.org 15 facts
claimThe environmental impacts of the global food system are not in line with global environmental targets as specified by the EAT-Lancet Commission on Healthy Diets from Sustainable Food Systems.
claimShifting towards more plant-based diets is identified as the most efficient method for reducing greenhouse gas emissions within the food system.
perspectiveThe 2021 Global Nutrition Report asserts that policy measures are required to transform the food system toward healthy and sustainable food production by prioritizing the adoption of healthy and sustainable diets and disincentivizing the production and consumption of high-impact foods such as meat and dairy.
claimNo region is currently on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals aimed at limiting health and environmental burdens related to diets and the food system.
claimThe environmental impacts of the food system are increasing, as evidenced by data comparing 2010 and 2018 metrics for greenhouse gas emissions, land use, fresh-water use, and nitrogen and phosphorus application.
measurementThe global food system required 15.8 million square kilometres (Mkm2) of cropland, 43.9 Mkm2 of pastureland, 2,500 cubic kilometres (km3) of fresh water, 108.7 million tonnes (Mt) of nitrogen, and 18.6 Mt of phosphorus in 2018.
measurementGlobal phosphorus application by the food system was 67% above the values required to limit marine pollution to acceptable levels as defined by SDG 14.1.
referenceSpringmann M, Clark M, Mason-D’Croz D, et al. published research in Nature in 2018 regarding options for keeping the food system within environmental limits.
claimThe global food system is a major driver of environmental pollution and resource demand, contributing to the crossing of key planetary boundaries that define a safe operating space for humanity on Earth.
measurementGlobal nitrogen application by the food system was 113% above the values required to limit marine pollution to acceptable levels as defined by SDG 14.1.
measurementGlobal freshwater use by the food system exceeded rates of sustainable withdrawals by more than 52% in 2018, according to SDG 6.4 targets.
referenceRosenzweig C, Mbow C, Barioni LG, et al. published research in Nature Food in 2020 arguing that climate change responses benefit from a global food system approach.
referenceA study titled 'Options for keeping the food system within environmental limits' was published in Nature in 2018.
claimNo region is currently on track to fulfill the set of sustainable development goals related to the environmental impacts of the food system.
claimThe Global Nutrition Report analysis of regional diets in 2010 and 2018 indicates that no region is on track to meet global environmental targets related to the food system.
A Scoping Review of Indicators for Sustainable Healthy Diets frontiersin.org Jan 12, 2022 8 facts
referenceVermeulen, Campbell, and Ingram (2012) reviewed the relationship between climate change and food systems.
measurementGlobal food systems account for up to 29% of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE), according to Vermeulen et al. (2012).
referenceLuckett B. G., DeClerck F. A., Fanzo J., Mundorf A. R., and Rose D. (2015) published 'Application of the Nutrition Functional Diversity indicator to assess food system contributions to dietary diversity and sustainable diets of Malawian households' in Public Health Nutrition.
referenceMyers et al. (2017) assessed the potential impacts of climate change on global food systems, food security, and undernutrition in the article 'Climate change and global food systems: potential impacts on food security and undernutrition' published in Annual Review of Public Health.
claimThe High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE) developed conceptual frameworks in 2017 showing the relationship between food systems and nutrition.
referenceThe 2020 report 'The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020: Transforming Food Systems for Affordable Healthy Diets' was published by the FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO.
claimThe Second International Conference on Nutrition in 2014 highlighted the challenges and urgency of transforming food systems to deliver healthy diets in a sustainable manner due to the growing double burden of malnutrition.
referenceMason P. and Lang T. (2017) authored the book 'Sustainable Diets: How Ecological Nutrition Can Transform Consumption and the Food System,' published by Routledge in New York.
Wild edible plants for food security, dietary diversity, and nutraceuticals frontiersin.org Nov 27, 2025 6 facts
claimIntegrating Wild Edible Plants (WEPs) into food systems may facilitate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
claimFood systems must be transformed to integrate food security, nutrition, ecosystem services, climate change mitigation/adaptation, and rural prosperity to ensure just and equitable livelihoods.
claimIntegrating Wild Edible Plants (WEPs) into food systems helps address climate change, food insecurity, and reduces dependence on staple cereals.
claimWild Edible Plants (WEPs) are considered a central pillar for transforming food systems to address global undernourishment and the environmental impact of intensive agriculture.
perspectiveResearching edible weeds is a worthwhile strategy for improving agricultural sustainability, with benefits for agroecosystems, food systems, and public health.
claimIntegrating wild edible plants into local food systems is a sustainable approach to reducing the carbon footprints of intensive farming and creating more resilient food systems.
Measuring Adherence to Sustainable Healthy Diets - R Discovery discovery.researcher.life Dec 26, 2022 5 facts
perspectiveA systems approach is useful in providing stakeholders and policymakers with a comprehensive understanding of the broader food system, which is characterized as a dynamic and complex system.
measurementFood systems are responsible for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions.
claimThe food environment is defined as the interface between the wider food system and the consumer's food acquisition and consumption.
claimRedesigning food systems using a systems approach may help mitigate climate change by accounting for the various stakeholders and policymakers involved.
claimRecent research articles utilizing a systems approach to food systems include studies on local sustainability modeling, policy activities for healthy and sustainable diets, food-related policymaking processes, low fruit and vegetable intake in children, and livestock-derived food systems.
A Consensus Proposal for Nutritional Indicators to Assess ... - Frontiers frontiersin.org 5 facts
claimThe sustainability of food systems is an urgent action area for governments and international organizations to address the socioeconomic and environmental consequences of short-sighted agricultural and rural practices.
claimThe authors of the study aim to formulate recommendations for cross-sectoral policy instruments to improve the sustainability of diets and food systems by using indicators across environmental, economic, and sociocultural dimensions.
claimThe concept of sustainable diets posits that sustainable consumption acts as a driver for sustainable production, aiming to transform food systems toward patterns that reduce environmental pressures.
claimFood systems must operate within the framework of finite resources and utilize natural resources sustainably to maintain ecosystem balance.
claimThere is a growing scientific need to develop a holistic perspective on food systems that encompasses the entire chain from production to consumption and dietary habits.
How the intersection of modern diets, climate, and food systems is ... medicalxpress.com Nov 17, 2025 3 facts
quoteJames Hébert stated: "Modern food systems, which are designed to produce convenience foods that tend to have high inflammatory potential, exacerbate environmental degradation and shape the interwoven challenges of climate, nutrition and health."
claimJames R Hébert et al. propose a multi-faceted approach to address food system challenges, including individual behavioral changes, policy interventions, and cross-sector collaborative initiatives.
referenceResearchers at the University of South Carolina published a review in the journal Advances in Nutrition examining the intersection of diet-induced inflammation, climate change, and food systems, led by nutrition epidemiologist James Hébert.
Anna Herforth's Post - LinkedIn linkedin.com Jan 31, 2025 3 facts
claimCurrent agricultural investment plans are projected to result in only modest improvements to global food systems.
perspectiveAnna Herforth asserts that the current global food system is structured to incentivize the production of cheap, nutritionally inferior food rather than healthy food.
referenceA research paper co-authored by William A. Masters and Anna Herforth (FoodPricesForNutrition at The Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University) and Timothy Sulser and Nicola Cenacchi (International Food Policy Research Institute) concludes that global food systems fall short of healthy diet recommendations when analyzing past food supply data and future climate change projections.
Ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants in the mountainous ... link.springer.com Oct 4, 2024 2 facts
referenceBaker P., Machado P., Santos T., Sievert K., Backholer K., Hadjikakou M., and Lawrence M. published 'Ultra-processed foods and the nutrition transition: global, regional and national trends, food systems transformations and political economy drivers' in Obesity Reviews in 2020, volume 21, issue 12, article e13126.
claimWild edible plants have the potential to ensure a resilient food system if integrated into diets while maintaining natural habitats and responsible harvesting practices.
Plant Ecology | US Forest Service Research and Development research.fs.usda.gov Jul 29, 2022 2 facts
claimFlowering plants and their pollinator partners are essential for crop production and sustaining food systems.
claimPlants define forest and grassland systems by shaping hydrologic systems and nutrient cycling, providing the basis for food systems and shelter for wildlife, and driving local economies.
Dietary Guidelines and Quality - Principles of Nutritional Assessment nutritionalassessment.org 2 facts
perspectiveFuture developments in food-based dietary guidelines and diet quality metrics are expected to increasingly incorporate concerns regarding the environmental sustainability of diets and food systems.
claimCurrent global food systems contribute a significant share of global greenhouse gas emissions, land conversion, deforestation, and biodiversity loss, while agriculture accounts for the majority of global freshwater withdrawals, according to the FAO and WHO (2019).
Editorial: Local, traditional and indigenous food systems in the 21st ... frontiersin.org 2 facts
perspectiveFrom a food governance perspective, it is essential to ensure that food systems are sustainable, resilient to crises, and characterized by equitable relationships between the actors involved.
claimModern food production systems are a major source of global greenhouse gas emissions and utilize natural resources unsustainably, while modern diets often lack essential micronutrients and food biodiversity.
How do the indices based on the EAT-Lancet recommendations ... medrxiv.org May 14, 2024 2 facts
claimFood systems encompass all aspects of feeding and nourishing people, from production to consumption, and involve multiple resources and their impact on nutrition, health, the economy, society, and the environment.
measurementFood systems contribute 34% of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) and 70% of freshwater consumption, while also contributing to resource depletion, pollution, land use, and biodiversity loss.
Associations between dietary diversity and self-rated health in a ... link.springer.com Feb 28, 2025 2 facts
referenceRapinski M, Raymond R, Davy D, Herrmann T, Bedell JP, and Ka A developed a questionnaire on food systems consisting of two parts: etic and emic, as part of the 'Food systems under influence' (SASI) project.
claimThe evolution of food systems, characterized by nutrition and dietary transitions, is influenced by agro-industrial foods from a globalized food system.
Modern Diet and its Impact on Human Health - Longdom Publishing longdom.org 2 facts
claimDiverse food systems and diets associated with different ways of life affect human physical activity levels, body composition, physique, life expectancy, and disease patterns, including cancer.
claimAs countries become increasingly urbanized and industrialized, their food systems and dietary patterns change rapidly.
“The Old Foods Are the New Foods!”: Erosion and Revitalization of ... frontiersin.org 1 fact
claimIndigenous Peoples quickly adopted and integrated some new foods into their existing food systems and lifeways, which enhanced their food security.
Global analysis reveals persistent shortfalls and regional differences ... sidalc.net 1 fact
claimA study on global food systems found substantial but inconsistent progress toward alignment with dietary guidelines, characterized by large global shortfalls in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds, alongside large regional disparities in the use of animal source foods.
Building Global Consensus on Nutrition Metrics to Support Food ... journals.lww.com 1 fact
perspectiveThe authors of the article 'Building Global Consensus on Nutrition Metrics to Support Food Systems' advocate for a more holistic approach to food system measurement that relies on robust nutrition and health-focused metrics and indicators.
Balancing land use for conservation, agriculture, and renewable ... nature.com Mar 7, 2026 1 fact
referenceBoakes et al. (2024) studied the impacts of the global food system on terrestrial biodiversity, specifically focusing on the effects of land use and climate change.
How One Tribal Nation Is Increasing Food Access and Restoring ... urban.org Jun 28, 2023 1 fact
claimThe videos and recipes produced by the tribal nation are intended to help restore Native people's food systems and cultures that were devastated by land theft.
Ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants in Goba District Southwest ... nature.com Jul 29, 2025 1 fact
claimThe dual approach of consuming wild plants raw or processed reflects the interplay between tradition and innovation in local food systems in the Goba District.
Approaches to Defining Healthy Diets: A Background Paper for the ... journals.sagepub.com Dec 24, 2020 1 fact
claimThe document 'Approaches to Defining Healthy Diets: A Background Paper for the ...' characterizes healthy diets and their implications for food systems.
Defining the Western Diet & Its Impact - Frontier Neuro frontierneuro.com Feb 1, 2022 1 fact
perspectiveThe author of the Frontier Neuro article asserts that the current food system negatively impacts both human health and the environment.
Global dietary quality in 185 countries from 1990 to 2018 show wide ... nature.com Sep 19, 2022 1 fact
claimThe globalization of food systems in developing countries has impacted food security and nutrition.
Ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants in Shabelle Zone, Eastern ... link.springer.com Feb 5, 2026 1 fact
claimWild edible plants in the Shabelle Zone represent a vital component of local food systems, particularly during periods of recurrent drought, erratic rainfall, and limited market access.