About this Research Topic

Background

The United Nations SDGs highlighted that major transformations in our food systems are needed to achieve zero hunger, food security and improved nutrition by 2030. In the context of rapid population growth, urbanization and growing inequality, changing demographics and dietary patterns is necessary. This Research Topic aims to explore the environmental and social impacts as well as climate risks of food systems for providing sufficient food and nutrition in human societies.

Considering the needs of future generations, there is an increasing appreciation that food systems need to be economically and environmentally sustainable, socially inclusive, as well as resilient to face future challenges brought by climate change. Transitioning food systems and diets is undoubtedly complex. Systemic challenges need to be addressed with a more holistic and coordinated approach with concerted efforts at local, national and global levels. Agricultural models need to adapt to more frequent drought incidents, which is the case in the Mekong region in China, whilst unsustainable dietary habits are on the rise in the Global North as well as in emerging markets such as the consumption of red and processed meat.

This Research Topic aims to analyse economic, social and environmental aspects of current food systems, with a specific focus on diets, and propose solutions for transitions that transcend disciplinary, divisional, and institutional boundaries. This Research Topic solicits both original research and review studies, and research works using interdisciplinary approaches will be most welcome.

Topics covered in this Research Topic include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Literature reviews that identify the state-of-art of current research concepts and methodologies, and approach and identify gaps for future research challenges;

• Empirical approaches that document novel evidence and data resources on social, environmental and economic impacts and performance of the current food systems;

• Evaluate potential environmental socio-economic impacts of future food systems as well as their resilience to potential shocks;

• Define future food systems within the RISE framework, including their characteristics and pathways;

• Solutions and policies to transition food systems to be more resilient, inclusive, sustainable and economic (RISE);

• Relationships, including trade-offs, conflicts and synergies, between different goals and objectives of future food systems.

Keywords: food system, sustainability, transition, multidisciplinary, diet

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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