Innovation can accelerate the transition towards a sustainable food system

Abstract

Future technologies and systemic innovation are critical for the profound transformation the food system needs. These innovations range from food production, land use and emissions, all the way to improved diets and waste management. Here, we identify these technologies, assess their readiness and propose eight action points that could accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable food system. We argue that the speed of innovation could be significantly increased with the appropriate incentives, regulations and social license. These, in turn, require constructive stakeholder dialogue and clear transition pathways. Main To date, the future sustainability of food systems, the role of changing diets, reducing waste and increasing agricultural productivity have been mainly studied through the lens of existing technologies. Regarding the latter, for example, a common research question concerns what level of yield gain could be achieved through new crop varieties, livestock breeds, animal feeds, or changes in farming practices and the diffusion of technologies such as irrigation and improved management 7-13. Yet, as studies have shown, even with wide adoption of existing agricultural technologies,

Uncoupling Meat From Animal Slaughter and Its Impacts on Human-Animal Relationships

“…Examples of external relevant factors are climate change, water shortages, outbreaks of food-borne diseases, as well as the geographical distribution of these putative events, which may differently stress either a faster or a slower development for each plant-and cell-based meat alternatives. Furthermore, we highlight again that as potential consumers worldwide have socially engrained relationships to food (Herrero et al, 2020), expressed as established local habits and traditions, the acceptance of meat substitutes may not be straightforward. Considering all the complexities, however, it seems clear that a major disruptive change is on the horizon, which warrants forecasting efforts from a variety of perspectives.…”

“…However, there are uncertainties as to the exact proportions of total meat market to be substituted, which are challenging for scenario forecasting. For instance, although recent research has shown that cell-and plant-based meat substitutes may be accepted or at least tried by consumers in a diversity of countries like Brazil, Germany, Italy, India, China, and the United States (Bryant et al, 2019;Mancini and Antonioli, 2019;Valente et al, 2019;Weinrich et al, 2019), some of those products do not exist so far (e.g., cell-based meat products), and more nuanced insights into the cultural and social barriers for introducing food innovation are still needed (Herrero et al, 2020), as they can challenge an exclusively technical understanding of dietary changes (Noack and Pouw, 2015). Thus, even though the need for a profound transformation of the food systems is recognized (Herrero et al, 2020), projections must be cautiously interpreted.…”

“…However, even with the development of incremental technologies for the intensification of production, the necessary gain in future meat production from agriculture may not be achieved (FAO, 2012). In addition, 48 authors from relevant institutions at national and international levels have signed the statement that "future technologies and systemic innovation are critical for the profound transformation the food system needs" (Herrero et al, 2020). Therefore, disruption of the conventional meat systems seems fundamental.…”

Critical Perspective of Animal Production Specialists on Cell-Based Meat in Brazil: From Bottleneck to Best Scenarios

“…Currently, it is widely recognised that new technologies and systemic innovation are critical for the profound transformation the food system needs [1]. Cell-based meat is an alternative to conventional meat that does not require the husbandry and slaughtering of animals [2].…”

Transition from Animal-Based to Plant-Based Food Production to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Agriculture—The Case of Denmark

“…This should include: (i) providing guidelines and establishing pilots for efficient and sustainable conversion of livestock production to plant production in collaboration with the farmer advisory services, (ii) targeting subsidies towards production of plant-based food commodities [47], coupled with (iii) implementing measures for increasing the capability, opportunity, and motivation of consumers that will make it easier and more acceptable for them to make a primarily plant-based and healthy diet the preferred choice [71][72][73], and iv) considering adopting a carbon tax on food, as suggested by the Danish Council on Climate Change [20]. New actors in the market, such as producers of plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy, can potentially accelerate this transition because they are not invested in maintaining the status quo as more established actors are [74].…”