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Review on Food Systems, Climate Change, and Air Pollution: Emphasizing Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

A recent review published in Engineering examines the intricate relationships among food systems, climate change, and air pollution. The study underscores the critical need for sustainable strategies to tackle these interconnected global challenges, aligning with multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Impact of Climate Change and Air Pollution on Food Systems

Climate change and air pollution significantly threaten global food systems by disrupting agricultural production and food security:

1. Climate Change Effects:
   • Rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns affect crop growth cycles.
   • Extreme weather events cause yield fluctuations and increase uncertainty in food supply.
2. Air Pollution Effects:
   • Ozone pollution damages crop leaves, reducing agricultural productivity.
   • These impacts compromise global food security and nutrition, directly relating to SDG 2.

Food Systems as Contributors to Climate Change and Air Pollution

The food system itself is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants, which exacerbate climate change and health risks:

• Agricultural activities such as livestock production, fertilizer use, and rice cultivation emit methane and nitrous oxide.
• The entire food supply chain generates significant air pollutant emissions, affecting air quality and public health (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being).

Mitigation Strategies within Food Systems

To reduce environmental impacts, the review highlights several mitigation measures aligned with SDG 13 and SDG 15 (Life on Land):

• Crop Nutrient Management: Implementing the 4R nutrient stewardship program (right source, rate, timing, and placement) to optimize fertilizer use and reduce emissions.
• Rice Management: Adopting non-continuous flooding practices to lower methane emissions.
• Livestock Management: Controlling livestock numbers, adjusting diets, and improving manure management through covered storage and anaerobic digestion.
• Soil and Demand-Side Measures: Enhancing soil carbon management, applying biochar, promoting plant-based diets, and reducing food waste.

Adaptation Strategies for Food Production

Adaptation efforts focus on increasing resilience to climate impacts, supporting SDG 2 and SDG 13:

• Breeding climate-resilient crop varieties and adjusting cultivation methods.
• Improving water use efficiency in agriculture.
• Adopting climate-resilient livestock species, cross-breeding programs, and enhancing animal housing ventilation.

Climate-Smart and Environmentally Friendly Agri-Food Systems

The review introduces the concept of climate-smart agri-food systems that simultaneously achieve food security, climate mitigation, and adaptation:

• Examples include climate-smart villages in Asia and sustainable agricultural practices in African countries.
• These approaches contribute to multiple SDGs by promoting sustainable agriculture and resilient communities.

Research Gaps and Future Directions

The authors identify key areas for future research to support SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):

• More accurate assessments of climate and pollution impacts on crop nutrient composition and pest/disease damage.
• Comprehensive tracking of food system emissions across supply chains, with emphasis on non-CO₂ gases and high-resolution data.

Global Cooperation and Policy Implications

Addressing the challenges at the nexus of food systems, climate change, and air pollution requires coordinated global action:

• Governments, policymakers, and stakeholders must collaborate to implement sustainable policies throughout the food supply chain.
• Such efforts are essential to ensure a resilient and sustainable future for food security, environmental health, and climate stability, supporting the achievement of the SDGs.

Reference

The review titled “Interactions Among Food Systems, Climate Change, and Air Pollution: A Review” is authored by Chaopeng Hong et al. The full open-access paper is available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2024.12.021.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • The article discusses the impact of climate change and air pollution on food systems, agricultural productivity, and food security, directly relating to the goal of ending hunger and ensuring access to sufficient and nutritious food.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article highlights the role of food systems in contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and the need for mitigation and adaptation strategies to combat climate change.
3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Air pollution’s health risks mentioned in the article connect to this goal, emphasizing the need to reduce pollution for better health outcomes.
4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Strategies such as reducing food waste and promoting plant-based diets relate to sustainable consumption and production patterns.
5. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • The article’s focus on soil carbon management and sustainable agricultural practices supports the protection and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers through sustainable food production systems.
   • Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices to increase productivity and production.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.9: Reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Target 12.3: Halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains.
5. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.3: Combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought, and floods.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Food Security and Agricultural Productivity Indicators
   • Crop yield fluctuations and changes in crop growth cycles as a result of climate change and air pollution.
   • Measures of food supply stability and nutrition quality.
2. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Indicators
   • Quantities of methane, nitrous oxide, and other GHG emissions from agricultural activities such as livestock production, fertilizer use, and rice cultivation.
   • Tracking non-CO₂ emissions across the food supply chain.
3. Air Pollution Indicators
   • Levels of ozone and other air pollutants affecting crop health and human health.
4. Adoption of Mitigation and Adaptation Practices
   • Implementation rates of nutrient management programs (e.g., 4R nutrient stewardship).
   • Use of non-continuous flooding in rice cultivation and manure management techniques.
   • Adoption of climate-resilient crop varieties and livestock species.
5. Food Waste Reduction Indicators
   • Reduction in per capita food waste at retail and consumer levels.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets and Indicators

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