Options for keeping the food system within environmental limits

Description: 

Authors: Johan Rockström; Benjamin Leon Bodirsky; Brent Loken; Charles Godfray; Daniel Mason-D?Croz; David Tilman; Fabrice DeClerck; Jess Fanzo; Keith Wiebe; Kimberly M. Carlson; Line J. Gordon; Luis Lassalettas; Malin Jonell; Marco Springmann; Mario Herrero; Max Troell; Michael Clark; Mike Rayner; Peter Scarborough; Rami Zurayk; Sonja J. Vermuelen; Walter Willett; Wim de Vries... Abstract: "The food system is a major driver of climate change, changes in land use, depletion of freshwater resources, and pollution of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems through excessive nitrogen and phosphorus inputs. Here we show that between 2010 and 2050, as a result of expected changes in population and income levels, the environmental effects of the food system could increase by 50?90% in the absence of technological changes and dedicated mitigation measures, reaching levels that are beyond the planetary boundaries that define a safe operating space for humanity. We analyse several options for reducing the environmental effects of the food system, including dietary changes towards healthier, more plant-based diets, improvements in technologies and management, and reductions in food loss and waste. We find that no single measure is enough to keep these effects within all planetary boundaries simultaneously, and that a synergistic combination of measures will be needed to sufficiently mitigate the projected increase in environmental pressures."

Creator/author: 

Authors: Johan Rockström Benjamin Leon Bodirsky Brent Loken Charles Godfray Daniel Mason-D?Croz David Tilman Fabrice DeClerck Jess Fanzo Keith Wiebe Kimberly M. Carlson Line J. Gordon Luis Lassaletta Malin Jonell (cont. Description field)

Source/publisher: 

"Nature"

Date of Publication: 

2018-10-10

Date of entry: 

2018-10-15

Grouping: 

  • Individual Documents

Category: 

Language: 

English