Given the current and future needs of the human population and the finite resources our planet can provide, we will need to transition from the current unsustainable food system to a healthy, circular and resource-efficient paradigm. These transitions will be hugely complex, since the multiple aspects of food production and consumption are closely interconnected and changing one aspect can easily have major unintended consequences. Yet the transitions are urgent and must be driven by science as well as values. Therefore an integrated vision is proposed characterised by four objectives, which are to be pursued through eight scientific approaches combined within a matrix.
The subjects of potential public-private partnerships in which transdisciplinary consortia are encouraged to collaborate can be found at the crossroads of various objectives and approaches. The extent and complexity of the tasks at hand demands a coordinated action that will include all stakeholders: the Food System Transitions. This should be a joint undertaking of industry and public partners committed to implementing a better system. In many ways, Europe is uniquely well placed to be at the forefront of these transitions and must take a lead in the years to come.
A key aspect of the vision is its multidisciplinary nature. This allows policy makers, funding agencies, researchers and programme managers to work on one dimension while remaining aware of how their work contributes to the whole, identifying any gaps and managing the balance. In keeping with this, the document can be read from front to back: however, its matrix approach means that readers who wish to do so can also focus on specific challenges or scientific approaches.
Source: Kampers, F. W. H., & Fresco, L. O. 2017. Food transitons 2030: How to achieve the transitions to a sustainable, affordable, trustworthy and high-quality food system in the next decade or two that will fulfill the needs of a diverse and growing world population. Wageningen University & Research.