Summary
This multimodel assessment evaluated four key food systems transformation measures—agricultural productivity gains, halving food loss and waste, dietary shifts towards the EAT-Lancet reference diet, and 1·5°C-aligned climate policies—both individually and in combination using an ensemble of ten global economic models. The study employed decomposition analysis to distinguish individual effects, total effects within a bundle, and interaction effects, thereby illuminating complementarities and trade-offs. The findings demonstrate that bundled implementation of these measures yields synergistic benefits for hunger reduction and environmental sustainability, with specific reductions in emissions and agricultural land use noted across scenarios.
UK applicability
As a global modelling study, the findings provide evidence on food systems transformation pathways applicable to UK policy development around net-zero food systems, dietary guidelines, and waste reduction targets. However, model outputs reflect global averages and regional heterogeneity; UK-specific analysis would require disaggregated results or separate modelling reflecting UK agricultural systems, dietary patterns, and policy contexts.
Key measures
Hunger risk reduction, greenhouse gas emissions reductions, agricultural land use changes, modelled outcomes from 2020 to 2050 under middle-of-the-road socioeconomic pathways
Outcomes reported
The study quantified the individual and combined impacts of four food systems transformation measures (agricultural productivity increases, food loss and waste reduction, healthier dietary shifts, and climate mitigation policies) on hunger risk, environmental outcomes, and agricultural land use through 2050 using ten global economic models. The analysis assessed complementarities and trade-offs between measures when implemented in isolation versus as a bundled scenario.
Topic tags
Dig deeper with Pulse AI.
Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.