Our global food system is in crisis, and the numbers are staggering: one in ten people worldwide face hunger, while two billion struggle with obesity. At the same time, a shocking one-third of all food produced goes to waste, and agriculture contributes a massive one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. It's a complex web of interconnected challenges that demand urgent action. But here's the silver lining: a groundbreaking special issue of The Lancet Planetary Health, spearheaded by Cornell University's Food Systems and Global Change (FSGC) group, offers a roadmap for transformation. Published on November 3rd, this issue presents a multi-faceted approach to creating food systems that are not only healthier and more sustainable but also just and equitable for all.
Led by Professor Mario Herrero, the FSGC team emphasizes the need for simultaneous, coordinated efforts to address these challenges. As Herrero puts it, “We must implement multiple actions at once to maximize the synergies between environmental protection, human health, and fair food systems.” This special issue is a testament to that vision, building on the work of the EAT-Lancet Commission, a global coalition of experts from over 35 countries.
But this is the part most people miss: transforming our food systems isn’t just about cutting emissions or reducing waste—it’s about balancing competing priorities. As Daniel Mason-D'Croz, a senior research associate at Cornell, explains, “The food system is like a water balloon: press down on one part, and another pops up.” We want to reduce emissions, land use, and water consumption while ensuring affordable access to healthy diets and fair wages for food producers. This delicate balance requires holistic, interconnected solutions.
Take, for example, the shift toward healthier diets aligned with the EAT-Lancet recommendations. While this move has clear health and environmental benefits, it also poses challenges. Increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, which are more perishable than processed foods, can lead to greater food loss and waste. Marina Sundiang, a postdoctoral associate at FSGC, highlights the need for measures like smaller, more frequent shopping trips, improved composting access, and research into better storage practices to counterbalance this effect.
Throughout the special issue, researchers propose solutions for producers, consumers, and governments. For consumers, the key is adopting diets with modest animal-sourced foods and more fruits and vegetables. Producers are encouraged to boost productivity and embrace circularity, such as recycling nutrients in the food supply chain. Governments, meanwhile, must provide sustained support for scientific research to develop resource-efficient farming practices and new crop varieties.
But here’s where it gets controversial: How do we balance the need for rapid systemic change with the realities of implementation? Matthew Gibson, a postdoctoral associate at FSGC, hopes this issue will spark new collaborations across research and policy. “We’ve brought together cutting-edge models and global experts, but there are still so many unanswered questions,” he says. “How do we transform systems at the speed and scale required? Time is running out.”
This special issue is a call to action, inviting readers to think critically about the future of our food systems. Key contributors from institutions like Wageningen University, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, and the International Food Policy Research Institute have lent their expertise to this effort. Funded by organizations such as the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, this research is a testament to the power of collaboration.
So, what’s your take? Do you think we can achieve a just and sustainable food system in time? Or are the challenges too great? Let’s start the conversation—because one thing is clear: the future of our planet depends on it.
