Sustainable and Resilient Agrifood Systems ( <scp>SARAS</scp> ). A Leibniz Position
ABSTRACT Current agrifood systems fail to provide healthy, affordable food for all while also damaging the environment, contributing to climate change, reducing biodiversity, and increasing inequality. Given these compounding crises, it is crucial to transition towards sustainable and resilient agrifood systems (SARAS). This paper synthesizes perspectives from multiple disciplines on SARAS, incorporating consensus statements, current research positions, and actionable measures comprising ecological, economic, social, and political dimensions. Achieving a balance between global and local solutions is paramount to address the complexities inherent in agrifood systems. Moving forward, diversifying consumption patterns, production systems, and value chains depending on local conditions can support the realization of SARAS. Adopting a holistic system approach that covers both global and local dimensions of agrifood systems minimizes trade‐offs, leverages synergies, integrates international agreements, and mitigates unintended impacts on other countries and vulnerable groups. Nevertheless, several unsolved issues persist, including matters of scaling, applicability of effective policy instruments, and securing funding for this transformation.
Authors
- Petra Wiedmer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7284-7823)
- Shikha Ojha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2057-2287)
- Sonoko Dorothea Bellingrath‐Kimura (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7392-7796)
- Babette Regierer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5263-4553)
- Tilman Brück (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8344-8948)
- Monika Schreiner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5629-4429)
- Frauke Geppert
- Thomas Herzfeld (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8331-5750)
- Britta Renner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8385-2839)
- Sabine E. Kulling (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9956-2702)
- Annette Piorr
- Ferike Thom (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0359-7781)
- Franziska Gaupp (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5291-8049)
- Marco Springmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6028-5712)
- Oliver Schlüter (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6806-9886)
- Thomas Weith
- Tilman Grune (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4775-9973)
- Claudia Hunecke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6129-3933)
- Julia Vogt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2778-3788)
Institutions
- University of Potsdam (DE)
- University of Konstanz (DE)
- Leibniz Association (DE)
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (DE)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut (DE)
- Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (DE)
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (DE)
- ILS – Research Institute for Regional and Urban Development (DE)
- Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (DE)
- Azienda-Unita' Sanitaria Locale Di Cesena (IT)
- Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (DE)
- Max Rubner Institut (DE)
- International Security and Development Center (DE)
- German Institute of Human Nutrition (DE)
- South East Technological University (IE)
- University College London (GB)
- Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (DE)
- Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (DE)
- Waterford Institute of Technology (IE)
- University of Bologna (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Sustainable Development
- Published
- 2025-04-24
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.3468
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.72
Funders
- Wellcome Trust
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
- Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft
- Leibniz-Gemeinschaft