Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewed

A food system transformation pathway reconciles 1.5 °C global warming with improved health, environment and social inclusion

Benjamin Leon Bodirsky, Felicitas Beier, Florian Humpenöder, Debbora Leip, Michael Crawford, David M. Chen, Patrick von Jeetze, Marco Springmann, Bjoern Soergel, Zebedee Nicholls, Jessica Strefler, Jared Lewis, Jens Heinke, Christoph Müller, Kristine Karstens, Isabelle Weindl, Miodrag Stevanović, Patrick Rein, P. Sauer, Abhijeet Mishra, Edna Johanna Molina Bacca, Alexandre C. Köberle, Xiaoxi Wang, Vartika Singh, Claudia Hunecke, Quitterie Collignon, Pepijn Schreinemachers, Simon Dietz, Ravi Kanbur, Jan Philipp Dietrich, Hermann Lotze‐Campen, Alexander Popp

Nature Food · 2025

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Summary

This modelling study applies a global food and land system framework to evaluate 23 food system measures against 15 indicators of health, environmental and social outcomes to 2050. While individual measures present trade-offs, their combined implementation is estimated to reduce annual mortality by 182 million life years, nearly halve nitrogen surplus, and achieve the 1.5 °C climate target when integrated with non-food-system measures. The work demonstrates that strategic food system transformation can simultaneously address public health, environmental protection and social inclusion objectives.

UK applicability

As a global modelling study, the findings provide a high-level framework applicable to UK food policy strategy. However, the 23 measures and their effectiveness will require contextualisation to UK agricultural capacity, dietary patterns, trade dependencies and existing regulatory structures to inform domestic policy implementation.

Key measures

Mortality reduction (life years), nitrogen surplus, absolute poverty, greenhouse gas emissions, climate target achievement (1.5 °C)

Outcomes reported

The study quantified the impact of 23 food system measures on 15 outcome indicators spanning public health, environment, social inclusion and economics through 2050. Key measured outcomes included annual mortality reduction, nitrogen surplus reduction, and poverty impacts.

Theme
Policy, governance & rights
Subject
Food & agricultural policy
Study type
Research
Study design
Policy report
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
Global
System type
Food supply chain
DOI
10.1038/s43016-025-01268-y
Catalogue ID
BFmokjof1a-a7re7v

Topic tags

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