A food system transformation pathway reconciles 1.5 °C global warming with improved health, environment and social inclusion
The improvement of the global food system requires a thorough understanding of how specific measures may contribute to the system’s transformation. Here we apply a global food and land system modelling framework to quantify the impact of 23 food system measures on 15 outcome indicators related to public health, the environment, social inclusion and the economy, up to 2050. While all individual measures come with trade-offs, their combination can reduce trade-offs and enhance co-benefits. We estimate that combining all food system measures may reduce yearly mortality by 182 million life years and almost halves nitrogen surplus while offsetting negative effects of environmental protection measures on absolute poverty. Through joint efforts, including measures outside the food system, the 1.5 °C climate target can be achieved.
Authors
- Patrick von Jeetze (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1197-4412)
- Pepijn Schreinemachers (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1596-3179)
- Debbora Leip (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6034-9640)
- Felicitas Beier (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8725-7663)
- Alexandre C. Köberle (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0328-4750)
- Jens Heinke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5256-0024)
- Zebedee Nicholls (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4767-2723)
- Jared Lewis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8155-8924)
- Florian Humpenöder (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2927-9407)
- Hermann Lotze‐Campen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0003-5508)
- Xiaoxi Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7328-8506)
- Marco Springmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6028-5712)
- Miodrag Stevanović (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1799-186X)
- Ravi Kanbur (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8964-3333)
- Bjoern Soergel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2630-7081)
- Kristine Karstens (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5860-9789)
- Jan Philipp Dietrich (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4309-6431)
- Isabelle Weindl (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7651-6930)
- Alexander Popp (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9500-1986)
- Claudia Hunecke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6129-3933)
- Vartika Singh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4896-7590)
- P. Sauer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6856-8239)
- Simon Dietz
- Abhijeet Mishra
- Benjamin Leon Bodirsky
- David Meng-Chuen Chen
- Christoph Müller
- Michael S. Crawford
- Quitterie Collignon
- Patrick Rein
- Edna Johanna Molina Bacca
- Jessica Strefler
Publication Details
- Journal
- London School of Economics and Political Science Research Online (London School of Economics and Political Science)
- Published
- 2025-12-19
- Primary Topic
- Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00