Food in a green light: a systems approach to sustainable food

In: EEA report No 16/2017

Abstract

Ensuring the availability of nutritious food for all in a fair and environmentally sustainable way is a major societal, economic and policy challenge. The EU has a long-term sustainability vision of 'living well, within the limits of our planet' by 2050. If Europe is to achieve this vision it must transform its core societal systems, including the food system. This report analyses the challenges ahead, places them in a global context and presents them in relation to how the food system can achieve more sustainable outcomes in terms of living well (food and nutrition security and social wellbeing), within the limits of our planet (ecosystem health). It identifies opportunities to respond to the challenges in the context of current policy objectives, the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the 2050 vision of the Seventh Environment Action Programme.