Greening Food Systems: Safety, Production, And Consumption
September 1st, 2023
Global agriculture and food processing are shifting towards environmentally friendly practices driven by producer and consumer concerns about sustainability, food security, and dietary wellness. Some of the key trends affecting this industry are described below.
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The demand for organic and regenerative agriculture will continue to rise as consumers increasingly consider the impact of conventional farming and food processing on the environment and human health. These practices will reduce chemical inputs, conserve water, promote carbon sequestration on farms, and drive product reformulation to reduce high fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) levels in processed foods.[1]?
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Farmers are also adopting precision farming techniques with enabling technologies like remote sensing, drones, and satellite imaging. These are utilized for targeted irrigation, fertilization, and pest management. Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics will further enhance operational efficiency, improving sustainability by optimizing resource use, minimizing waste, and increasing yields.[2]?
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Farming should be responsible for ensuring fairness, sustainability, and transparency throughout their supply chain. Farmers should partner ?with fair trade organizations
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Furthermore, climate change poses significant challenges to food supply, from extreme weather events destroying crops to shifting growing conditions altering yields. Farmers are adopting climate-resilient practices, such as crop diversification, water management, and new drought-tolerant and heat-resistant crop varieties. The development of climate-resilient crop traits through genetic engineering is expanding but it may be controversial in some jurisdictions.[3]?
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Vertical farming and other controlled environment agriculture (CEA) promise to revolutionize food production by enabling cultivation in urban areas and challenging climates. CEA utilizes technologies ranging from hydroponics to LED lighting to grow crops with minimal water, energy, and land requirements. This approach may contribute to reducing carbon footprints by allowing for cultication close to consumption centers.[4]?
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Consumers, governments, and other stakeholders are increasingly demanding transparency in the food supply-chain, focusing on aspects like food purity, sustainability, and ethical concerns such as the use of child labor. Blockchain technology and digital platforms enable the adoption of sustainable sourcing and traceability systems to monitor food from farm to fork. These systems have the potential to enhance accountability, reduce food waste, and improve food safety.[5]?
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Another significant trend is the growing popularity of plant-based diets and increased consumer awareness of the environmental impact of animal agriculture. Plant-based meat and dairy substitutes, as well as cultured proteins, provide sustainable and ethical alternatives to traditional animal products. These alternatives also have the potential to reduce the substantial greenhouse gas emissions, as well as land and water use, associated with livestock.[6]?
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Finally, efforts to minimize food waste — approximately one-third of the world’s food production goes to waste — and to transition to a circular economy are taking root, especially in Europe. Reusing food by-products, composting, and relying on anaerobic digestion to produce renewable energy are becoming more common practices to reduce waste generation and lessen the demand for food production resources.[7]? Moreover, food companies, partly driven by expanding plastics regulation, are innovating packaging solutions, including biodegradable and recyclable materials, to minimize environmental impact and promote circularity[8]?.[9]?
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While emerging technologies and innovation present significant opportunities for greening food systems, there is a long road ahead, and much remains to be done. Governments and consumers need to advocate for greener and more ethical products, while companies must adapt to increasing environmental regulations and intensify innovation efforts for sustainability.
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?[1]Organic farming