• English
  • Deutsch
  • Log In
    Password Login
    Research Outputs
    Fundings & Projects
    Researchers
    Institutes
    Statistics
Repository logo
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
  1. Home
  2. Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
  3. Artikel
  4. COVID-19 and sustainable food systems: What should we learn before the next emergency
 
  • Details
  • Full
Options
2021
Journal Article
Title

COVID-19 and sustainable food systems: What should we learn before the next emergency

Abstract
Three key transitions leading to a ""safe and just"" operating space, with a focus on food systems, emerged during the development of a Foresight study promoted by SCAR (Standing Committee on Agricultural Research1): (a) sustainable and healthy diets for all; (b) full circularity in the use of resources; (c) diversity as a key component of stable systems. As consequence of COVID-19, food emerged again as a central element of life, along with health, after decades in which food security was taken for granted, at least in most developed countries. The COVID-19 outbreak offered the opportunity for a reflection on the importance of resilience in emergencies. Sustainable and healthy diets for all, was shown, during the pandemic, to depend much more on social and economic conditions than on technical aspects of food production and processing. Agriculture and the agro-industry have now a potential to absorb, at least temporarily, workers laid out in other sectors; the pandemic could be an opportunity to re-think and re-value labor relationships in the sector as well as local productions and supply chains. A full circularity in food systems also would benefit from stronger links established at the territorial level and increase the attention on the quality of the environment, leading to the adoption of benign practices, regenerating rather than impoverishing natural resources. Diversity is a key component of a resilient system, both in the biophysical sphere and in the social sphere: new business models, new knowledge-sharing networks, new markets. The three transitions would operate in synergy and contribute to the resilience of the whole food system and its preparation for a possible next emergency. Science can support policy making; however, science needs to be better embedded in society, to have a clear direction toward the grand challenges, to address the social, economic, behavioral spheres, to aim clearly at the common good. We need to re-think the conundrum between competition and cooperation in research, devising ways to boost the latter without sacrificing excellence. We need to improve the way knowledge is generated and shared and we need to ensure that information is accessible and unbiased by vested interests.
Author(s)
Bisoffi, Stefano
Ahrné, Lilia
Univ. of Copenhagen, Dept. of Food Science
Aschemann-Witzel, Jessica
Aarhus Univ., MAPP Center
Báldi, András
Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Ecology and Botany
Cuhls, Kerstin  orcid-logo
Fraunhofer-Institut für System- und Innovationsforschung ISI  
DeClerck, Fabrice
Bioversity International; EAT Foundation
Duncan, Jessica
Wageningen Univ., Rural Sociology Group
Hansen, Henning Otte
Univ. of Copenhagen, Dept. of Food and Resource Economics
Hudson, Richard L.
Science Business Bruxelles
Kohl, Johanna
Natural Resources Institute
Ruiz, Begoña
AINIA
Siebielec, Grzegorz
Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation
Treyer, Sébastien
Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations
Brunori, Gianluca
Univ. of Pisa, Dept. of Agriculture, Food and Environment
Journal
Frontiers in sustainable food systems  
Open Access
DOI
10.3389/fsufs.2021.650987
File(s)
N-633377.pdf (305.19 KB)
Rights
CC BY 4.0: Creative Commons Attribution
Language
English
Fraunhofer-Institut für System- und Innovationsforschung ISI  
Keyword(s)
  • research policy

  • COVID-19

  • food system assessment

  • transformative research

  • foresight-research

  • Cookie settings
  • Imprint
  • Privacy policy
  • Api
  • Contact
© 2024