Catalyzing transformative futures in food and farming for global sustainability

This perspective article highlights the need for transformation in food and farming at three scales to promote a food system that meets UN Sustainable Development Goals. Food insecurity is still a persistent problem globally because of how food and farming sector is currently organized vs. how it sh...

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Main Author: Shonil A. Bhagwat
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-10-01
Series:Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2022.1009020/full
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author Shonil A. Bhagwat
author_facet Shonil A. Bhagwat
author_sort Shonil A. Bhagwat
collection DOAJ
description This perspective article highlights the need for transformation in food and farming at three scales to promote a food system that meets UN Sustainable Development Goals. Food insecurity is still a persistent problem globally because of how food and farming sector is currently organized vs. how it should be organized if cultural traditions, environmental concerns, and nutritional needs of the world's growing population were foregrounded. The article argues that system-wide transformations are needed at different scales: landscape (macro), species (meso) and genes (micro). It suggests alternatives available for food and farming sector and identifies transformative pathways that are more sustainable in cultural, social and environmental terms. A better management of farming landscapes; diversification of the food system to include a wider range of species; and better use of neglected and underutilized species, varieties and cultivars of plants, and breeds of animals, in the food system can help to catalyze such a transformation. This can go a long way in promoting global sustainability by achieving three key UN Sustainable Development Goals: 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) and 15 (Life on Land).
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spelling doaj.art-2e509f71591b4d5f84da3d3614368f0d2022-12-22T04:34:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2022-10-01610.3389/fsufs.2022.10090201009020Catalyzing transformative futures in food and farming for global sustainabilityShonil A. BhagwatThis perspective article highlights the need for transformation in food and farming at three scales to promote a food system that meets UN Sustainable Development Goals. Food insecurity is still a persistent problem globally because of how food and farming sector is currently organized vs. how it should be organized if cultural traditions, environmental concerns, and nutritional needs of the world's growing population were foregrounded. The article argues that system-wide transformations are needed at different scales: landscape (macro), species (meso) and genes (micro). It suggests alternatives available for food and farming sector and identifies transformative pathways that are more sustainable in cultural, social and environmental terms. A better management of farming landscapes; diversification of the food system to include a wider range of species; and better use of neglected and underutilized species, varieties and cultivars of plants, and breeds of animals, in the food system can help to catalyze such a transformation. This can go a long way in promoting global sustainability by achieving three key UN Sustainable Development Goals: 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) and 15 (Life on Land).https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2022.1009020/fullagriculture food and nutritionenvironmental sustainabilityfood securityhealth and wellbeingUN Sustainable Development Goals
spellingShingle Shonil A. Bhagwat
Catalyzing transformative futures in food and farming for global sustainability
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
agriculture food and nutrition
environmental sustainability
food security
health and wellbeing
UN Sustainable Development Goals
title Catalyzing transformative futures in food and farming for global sustainability
title_full Catalyzing transformative futures in food and farming for global sustainability
title_fullStr Catalyzing transformative futures in food and farming for global sustainability
title_full_unstemmed Catalyzing transformative futures in food and farming for global sustainability
title_short Catalyzing transformative futures in food and farming for global sustainability
title_sort catalyzing transformative futures in food and farming for global sustainability
topic agriculture food and nutrition
environmental sustainability
food security
health and wellbeing
UN Sustainable Development Goals
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2022.1009020/full
work_keys_str_mv AT shonilabhagwat catalyzingtransformativefuturesinfoodandfarmingforglobalsustainability