The global food system is facing multiple and multifaceted challenges and crises: increasing population, climate change, pandemics, conflicts, economic shocks, and natural disasters. These challenges have highlighted the fragility of the current food system and the need for a transition toward sustainable and resilient food production, distribution, and consumption practices. Sustainable food systems aim to provide healthy and nutritious food for all, while minimizing environmental impacts, ensuring social equity and economic viability, and enhancing resilience to shocks and stresses. In times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing war in Ukraine, a sustainable and resilient food system can be crucial in ensuring food and nutrition security, reducing food waste, and supporting sustainable local production.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the fragility of the global food system, with disruptions in supply chains, market closures, and reduced access to food for vulnerable populations. Further, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine significantly affected the global food system, affecting international trade patterns, production, and consumption, leading to food shortages, inflation, and a global food crisis. Climate change and natural disasters also pose significant challenges to food systems and require resilient and sustainable solutions. Accordingly, this call for papers aims to investigate the challenges and opportunities for sustainable food systems in times of crisis and offer insights and solutions for transforming into more resilient and equitable food systems.

Several actions can be taken to catalyze this transformation in times of crisis. Firstly, there is a need to promote agroecological practices that enhance biodiversity, soil health, and water conservation while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on synthetic inputs. Secondly, promoting local and regional food systems and short food supply chains can strengthen food security and reduce the reliance on global trade that is vulnerable to disruptions. Thirdly, reducing food waste through efficient production, distribution, and consumption practices can reduce pressure on resources and enhance food availability. Lastly, the circular economy approach can promote the use of by-products and waste as resources for food production, reducing waste and promoting resource efficiency.

Through this Research Topic, scholars and practitioners can share their experiences, insights, and solutions toward more sustainable and resilient food systems in times of crisis. The outcomes of this research can inform policies, programs, and practices that can promote sustainable food systems globally.

This Research Topic invites authors to submit articles on the following themes:
• Impacts of crises and shocks on the sustainability and resilience of food systems.
• Effects of crises on the achievements of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to food.
• Approaches, methods, and frameworks to assess the resilience of food systems to crises.
• The role of social/behavior shifts, including food consumption patterns and diets.
• Implementation of resilient food systems that promote health and well-being through sustainable approaches.
• Local, territorial, and regional food systems and their role in enhancing food security and reducing vulnerability to crises.
• Circular economy approaches to reduce food waste and promote resource efficiency.
• Innovative and technology-driven solutions for sustainable food production, distribution, and consumption.
• Policy and governance frameworks that support sustainable and resilient food systems.
• Case studies and empirical research on sustainable food systems in times of crisis, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and other climate-related crises and natural disasters.

We welcome original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and commentaries that address these themes and provide insights, solutions, and recommendations for building more sustainable and resilient food systems. We also encourage interdisciplinary approaches and contributions that bridge the gap between theory and practice.

Impact

Frontiers in Nutrition

Food Policy and Economics

Nutrition and Sustainable Diets

Participating Journals

Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

Nutrition and Sustainable Diets