Summary
This study quantifies the safe operating space for global food systems by calculating food system-specific boundaries within nine planetary boundaries. The authors find that food systems are the dominant driver of transgression across at least four critical boundaries (biosphere integrity, land system change, freshwater change, and biogeochemical flows) and significantly contribute to climate change and novel entity pollution. The work proposes concrete budgets and interventions—including emissions reduction, halting nature conversion, fertiliser redistribution, and limiting chemical inputs—as necessary to bring food systems into a sustainable operating space.
UK applicability
The planetary boundaries framework and proposed food system interventions are globally applicable, including to UK agriculture and food policy. The findings on fertiliser redistribution and halting intact nature conversion are particularly relevant to UK agricultural policy reform and the Environment Act targets.
Key measures
Food system shares of planetary boundaries; quantified budgets for greenhouse gas emissions, land conversion, fertiliser inputs, pesticide and antibiotic use, and freshwater flows
Outcomes reported
The study calculated food system boundaries across nine planetary boundaries and proposed budgets for the food system, determining that global food systems currently exceed all nine boundaries. The analysis identified critical interventions needed to move food systems into a safe operating space.
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