Summary
This analysis quantifies the safe operating space for global food systems by calculating food system-specific boundaries as shares of planetary boundaries. The work demonstrates that food systems currently transgress all nine boundaries, with particular dominance in driving biosphere integrity loss, land conversion, freshwater depletion, and nutrient cycle disruption. The authors propose concrete budgets and interventions—including substantial emissions reductions, agricultural land use constraints, fertiliser redistribution, and limits on chemical inputs—necessary to align food systems with planetary stability.
UK applicability
The UK, as a net food importer reliant on global food systems, is both affected by and contributes to these transgressions. The findings have direct relevance to UK agricultural policy, particularly around subsidy reform, land use planning, nutrient management regulations, and food system resilience targets outlined in environmental strategies.
Key measures
Food system budgets as proportional shares of nine planetary boundaries (biosphere integrity, land system change, freshwater change, biogeochemical flows, climate change, novel entities, and others); quantification of transgression magnitude across each boundary
Outcomes reported
The study calculated food system boundaries across nine planetary boundaries and quantified how much global food systems currently exceed these safe operating limits. The research identified specific interventions required to bring food systems within planetary boundaries, including reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, halting agricultural conversion of natural habitats, redistributing fertiliser inputs, and limiting pesticide and antibiotic use.
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