Summary
This Nature Food paper quantifies the safe operating space for food systems by calculating how much of each planetary boundary can be allocated to agriculture and food production. The authors find that food systems currently exceed all nine boundaries and are the dominant driver of at least four critical transgressions (biosphere integrity, land system change, freshwater change, and biogeochemical flows). The work proposes specific interventions—including substantial greenhouse gas reductions, halting nature conversion, redistributing fertiliser inputs, and limiting agrochemical use—necessary to bring food systems within safe limits whilst maintaining yields.
UK applicability
These global boundaries have direct relevance to UK food policy and agricultural strategy, particularly regarding the nation's net-zero commitments and environmental targets. UK policymakers and farmers can use these findings to contextualise their own food system contributions and align domestic agricultural reforms with planetary thresholds.
Key measures
Shares of planetary boundaries allocated to food systems; greenhouse gas emission budgets; land conversion limits; fertiliser redistribution targets; pesticide and antibiotic use limits; freshwater flow preservation thresholds
Outcomes reported
The study calculated food system boundaries across nine planetary boundaries and found that global food systems currently transgress all nine boundaries. The research proposes specific budgets and interventions needed to move food systems into a safe operating space.
Topic tags
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