The biodiversity nexus: food

Food is not only a fundamental aspect of human nutrition but also represents a key element in the development of societies. Traditions, cultures, social relationships, jobs, and indigenous and local knowledge have been built around food interactions, intertwining it with various aspects of quality of life. However, the depletion of natural resources and population growth threaten food security; the unsustainable practices of diverse sectors contribute to environmental pollution across aquatic and terrestrial realms, and competition for land arises from agricultural, forestry urbanization, and protected areas’ demands.

Food within the biodiversity nexus

In the biodiversity nexus, food has multiple bidirectional interlinkages with the other six elements (water, climate, energy, transport, health, biodiversity). For example, food availability and diversity are defined by biodiversity, climate, and water, while food production requires energy use, its distribution is facilitated by transport systems, and food quality and accessibility determine population health status. In turn, food production, especially for diets high in animal products, generates one of humanity’s largest carbon, water, and land footprints. This footprint wreaks alterations across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems worldwide. The impacts of the food system transcend local or national boundaries, due to international trade flows and tele-coupled systems, becoming an issue of socio-environmental (in)justice. Thus, the trade-offs associated with food compromise global nutrition and water security, as well as biodiversity, and need to be addressed as a global system.

Addressing global challenges

The United Nations has set the SDG2 “Zero hunger” by 2030. However, the goal, in the context of global environmental change, will not be achieved without substantial changes. The spectrum of actions spans from individual choices (like choosing plant-based diets) to governmental decisions (like public policies) combined with the biggest challenge of this nexus element: a transformation towards more sustainable food systems.