Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewed

Research meetings must be more sustainable

Alberto Sanz-Cobeña, Roberta Alessandrini, Benjamin Leon Bodirsky, Marco Springmann, Eduardo Aguilera, Barbara Amon, Fabio Bartolini, Markus Geupel, Bruna Grizzetti, Susanna Kugelberg, Catharina Latka, Liang Xia, Anna Birgitte Milford, Patrick Musinguzi, Ee Ling Ng, Helen Suter, Adrian Leip

Nature Food · 2020

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Summary

This commentary, published in Nature Food in 2020, addresses the sustainability paradox whereby researchers studying sustainable food and farming systems convene at carbon-intensive international conferences. The authors, a large international collaboration, argue for and likely propose frameworks to make research meetings more environmentally sustainable. The paper contributes to emerging discussion in academic communities about aligning institutional practice with research priorities on climate and sustainability.

UK applicability

Directly applicable to UK-based researchers and institutions conducting food and farming systems research, where pressure to attend international conferences conflicts with stated climate commitments. Relevant to UK research funding bodies and universities developing sustainable meeting policies.

Key measures

As suggested by the title, likely carbon footprint or environmental impact metrics of research meetings and travel; methodology not specified from metadata alone.

Outcomes reported

The paper likely discusses environmental and sustainability concerns associated with international research conferences and meetings in agricultural and food systems research, and proposes approaches to reduce their ecological footprint.

Theme
Policy, governance & rights
Subject
Food & agricultural policy
Study type
Commentary
Study design
Commentary
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
International
System type
Food supply chain
DOI
10.1038/s43016-020-0065-2
Catalogue ID
MGmowskwru-az42b7

Topic tags

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